Posted on
10/11/2007 8:21:31 PM
Kremlin Cup Quarterfinal Odds: Dementieva vs. Azarenka
By Nila Amerova
Moscow, Russia – Russia’s Elena Dementieva and Victoria Azarenka will face off on Friday, October 12, 2007, in the second quarterfinal match in Moscow. Dementieva, the crowd’s favorite in this match up, opens on the money line as the odds makers’ favorite as well. Tipped at -180 favorite odds with BetUS Sportsbook, bet on the stalwart Dementieva as she vies for a berth in semifinals of the Kremlin Cup.
Tennis Betting Line: Elena Dementieva -180 Victoria Azarenka +140
Match Time: 02:00 A.M. EST
Tennis Prediction: The quarterfinal between Dementieva and Azarenka marks their first-ever career meeting. Ranked No.14 in the world, Dementieva has much to recommend her as the -180 favorite.
For a start, she holds home court advantage, an edge that is huge for a player in any match. Admittedly, the courts are not the best at the Kremlin Cup Championships and a multitude of supporters can go a long way in spurring players on through the tough court conditions.
Second advantage Dementieva has over Azarenka is experience. At 25-years-old, Dementieva has had a solid career, earning seven WTA titles altogether since turning pro in 1998. While Dementieva is not a player that regularly wins tournaments, she typically factors deep.
In 2007, Dementieva amassed a 38/17 record for the season, which includes one WTA title – in Istanbul (clay).
In terms of surface, Dementieva favors clay, however, as one of the better on-court thinkers on the tour (her game comparable to Martina Hingis in style and strategy), her vision and chess-like strategy on court make up for some of the physical shortcomings that are prevalent in her hard court game.
At No.32 Victoria Azarenka, Dementieva will face one of the tours up-and-coming players. Azarenka advanced into the quarterfinal on the heels of two notable victories. In the first round, Azarenka upset Sybille Bammer 6-3, 6-4 and in the second round, she ousted Maria Sharapova 7-6(9), 6-2.
Both victories are great confidence boosts for the youngster from Belarus. On the merit of her performance in the early rounds, Azarenka at +140 underdog odds holds value. By no means would betting on Azarenka be a long shot, for by ousting [2] Maria Sharapova she has finally proven she can beat one of the elite Top 10 players. However, while not taking away from Azarenka’s victory, if truth be told, Sharapova’s loss was just another of a litany of disappointing losses, in an extremely unsatisfactory season.
Dementieva holds most of the advantages in this match. With Crowd support, experience and a strategic approach to her game, the balance tips in favor of Dementieva.
Tennis Free Pick: Dementieva in straight sets
Federer might be winning everything except clay these days, but with online sports betting in the BetUS.com Sportsbook, betting on tennis has never been so exciting! Join the BetUS.com online sportsbook today and start using the latest tennis lines, odds and props to earn cold, hard cash!
Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.