Posted on
10/26/2007 12:20:45 AM
Tennis Betting – St. Petersburg Verdasco vs. Starace
By Nila Amerova
St. Petersburg, Russia – The St. Petersburg Open moves into the quarterfinal round. The final eight have been determined and the match ups are set to kick off on Friday, October 25, 2007. BetUS Sportsbook is taking action on this ATP indoor carpet event, so don’t miss one of the last chances to bet on your favorites this season.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Singles - Second Round Results:
[4] P Starace (ITA) d [Q] M Ledovskikh (RUS) 76(4) 62
[6] F Verdasco (ESP) d S Bolelli (ITA) 64 64
Tennis Free Picks
Tennis Betting Line: Potito Starace +225 Fernando Verdasco -350
Match Time: 03:00 A.M. EST
Tennis Prediction: No.30 Fernando Verdasco has been steadily fluctuating in the ATP ranks this season, starting the year ranked No.35, Verdasco dropped as low as No.51 before working his way back up the ranks to his current best at No.30. Verdasco, tipped as the -350 favorite, is just as shaky a player as his ranking would indicate. Bouts of streaky and inconsistent play make Verdasco a risky bet. However, after winning a challenger event this summer in Segovia (hard), Verdasco’s performance has been on the up. Turning out some notable performances in ATP events, of which include the following: SF: Kitzbuhel, Bangkok QF: New Haven, Stuttgart, Tokyo, and Las Vegas.
No.28 Potito Starace and No.30 Fernando Verdasco are tied at 1 in head-to-heads, but Starace owns the most recent victory – in Valencia (clay), Starace defeated Verdasco 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Both Starace and Verdasco favor clay, but transition onto hard courts moderately well. If there were any disadvantage, it would be Verdasco’s tendency to go for too much. Occasionally an erratic player on court, should Verdasco fail to execute a game plan, banking on Starace at +225 would be the better play.
Nevertheless, I will go with the odds makers on this one and pick the favorite. Verdasco’s game is enjoying resurgence, as such, and on the merit of his performance in this latter portion of the season, I am banking on his -350 odds.
Tennis Free Pick: Verdasco to persevere in three sets.
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Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.