Posted on 3/7/2008 6:36:35 PM

WTA Tennis – Bangalore Open 2008 Semifinal Picks

By Nila Amerova

Bangalore, India – With the final four contestants determined at the Bangalore Open 2008, not all went according to pre-tournament predictions as the quarterfinals delivered some mixed results at the close of action yesterday. In the top-half of the draw, the tournament received its biggest shock when top seed Jelena Jankovic was upset by Yan Zi of China in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Meanwhile, in the bottom half, all was right with the draw, as the seeded siblings reigned supreme, winning both their quarterfinal encounters to set up a semifinal clash. As the semifinalists at the Bangalore Open 2008 get ready to take the court on Saturday March 8, 2008 (for North American bettors at 12:30 AM Eastern Time), here are some free tennis picks to get you started betting.

Friday, March 7, 2008

WTA Singles – Quarterfinal Results:

Yan Zi (CHN) d. (1) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 63 36 63

(2) Venus Williams (USA) d. (7) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 64 63

(3) Serena Williams (USA) d. Anastasia Rodionova (RUS) 61 64

(4) Patty Schnyder (SUI) d. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 46 64 76(1)

Tennis Betting Line: Yan Zi vs. Patty Schnyder

Tennis Prediction: No.12 Patty Schnyder of Switzerland meets No.54 Yan Zi of China for the very first time in a Sony Ericsson WTA main draw. Schnyder, the fourth seed, received a bye into the second round, and opened her Bangalore Open campaign with a three set victory over Aiko Nakamura of Japan. In the quarterfinal, Schnyder was again taken to three sets, after dropping the first set to big-serving Akgul Amanmuradova, before pulling through with the victory in the third set tiebreak. Schnyder has not had an easy run in Bangalore and despite entering this match up as the odds makers favorite, the 29-year-old Swiss is not a sure bet.

The 23-year-old Yan Zi surprised everyone with her three-set victory over top seed Jelena Jankovic today, one of her biggest career wins. Yan Zi was responsible for seeing-off the tournaments eighth seed – Maria Kirilenko – in the first round and in the second round, she easily dominated Olga Savchuk of Ukraine with a straight set victory.

Yan Zi has definitely been the story of the tournament in the top half of the draw, and betting on her to continue her Cinderella run would be a bet worth making.

Tennis Free Pick: Yan Zi in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Venus Williams vs. Serena Williams

Tennis Prediction: The blockbuster billing of Venus and Serena Williams is fitting of a tournament final, but unfortunately, the siblings fell into the same half of the draw, and as was expected from the start of the tournament, here they are in the final four. The sisters are tied 7-7 lifetime; the last time they met was in 2005 and in both meetings, Venus Williams took the victory. Serena Williams is competing in only her second tournament of the season, after falling in the quarterfinal of the Australian Open. Venus Williams, appears in her fourth tournament. Her best result was a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open this year. Last week in Memphis, Venus Williams was a first round casualty.

Handicapping this matchup is no mean task, but if I was to pick a sister, then I pick Serena Williams owing to her slightly better performance in Bangalore.

Tennis Free Pick: Serena Williams in three sets

Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.