Posted on 3/6/2008 2:53:36 PM

WTA Tennis Betting – Bangalore Open 2008

By Nila Amerova

Bangalore, India – Tournament directors in Bangalore scored the Cat’s Meow of the WTA tour, when six Top 20 tennis stars confirmed they would be attending the Tier II event with a combined prize purse of $600,000. Vying for their share of the prize money will be No. 4 Jelena Jankovic, No.7 Venus Williams and No.11 Serena Williams, who earned top three seedings, along with No.12 Patty Schnyder, No.18 Agnes Szavay and No.20 Sybille Bammer (the fourth to sixth seeds). Completing the seeded line-up is Vera Zvonareva, who with two runner-up finishes in Hobart and Doha has enjoyed a great season thus far, and Maria Kirilenko of Russia.

The stellar line-up in Bangalore promises a fierce competition in Bangalore. Top seed Jelena Jankovic was one of the 2007season’s most outstanding performers – winning an enviable 72 matches and lifting four WTA titles. In 2008, Jankovic continued her solid performance, posting two semifinal runs at the Australian Open and in Dubai.

Making her first-ever appearance at the Bangalore Open, Jankovic is one of the short-odds-on favourites to emerge from the top half of the draw. Her section of the draw holds the least threats, making her an almost sure bet for a semifinal berth. Slotted to meet Jankovic in the semifinal is a possible encounter with either fourth seed Patty Schnyder or fifth seed Agnes Szavay. Jankovic owns a 2-1 record over Schnyder, but trails 0-1 lifetime against Szavay.

Venus Williams, also is set to make her debut at the Bangalore Open 2008, and in spite of a recent shocking upset in Memphis – Williams lost in her opening match to No.143 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic – she has the pedigree to clinch the title. Falling into the same draw as her younger sister Serena Williams, pre-tournament predictions have both sisters slotted for a semifinal berth – and what a delight it would be for tennis fans in Bangalore to witness a Williams clash.

Serena Williams recently dropped out of the Top 10 elite, as she has not competed in a tournament since her Australian Open defence campaign ended in the quarterfinal round. Arriving in Bangalore short on match play is no disincentive on Serena William’s odds, as she typically improves form during the course of a tournament. Her magical Grand Slam title run in Melbourne last year is case-and-point proof that whenever Serena Williams is in the draw, she is a viable title contender.

Bringing up the rear of the top four seeds is Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, who after a solid start to the season – appearing in the semifinal in Hobart, has struggled to improve on her best result, managing only a quarterfinal appearance in Antwerp. And in her last two events, she was eliminated in the early rounds – a second round exit in Doha and a first round exit in Dubai.

The top four seeds in Bangalore received a bye into the second round. With first round action completed, Jelena Jankovic begins her title charge against Sandra Mamic of Croatia, Venus Williams will meet Shuai Peng, Serena Williams faces Tzipora Obziler and Patty Schnyder will get up and running against Aiko Nakamura.

Bet on the Bangalore Open 2008 with BetUS.

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