Posted on 4/12/2008 12:05:51 PM

WTA Tennis Betting – Clay - Sharapova’s Biggest Challenge

By Nila Amerova

Amelia Island, Florida – Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova (bettors short-odds-on favourites for the title at BetUS Sportsbook) sneaked into the semifinals of the Bausch & Lomb Championships today, charging back from a set down 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-2 to eke out Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine. Sharapova prevailed in 2 hours, 43 minutes to reach her fourth semifinal of the year.

Before arriving at the Bausch & Lomb Championships, Sharapova owned a near-perfect record (18-1); her only loss for the season came at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semifinals. The victory over Bondarenko in the quarterfinals, top seed Sharapova, who received a bye into the second round, improves to a 21-1 mark for the season, which includes two WTA titles (Australian Open and Doha).

But all was not smooth sailing for the Russian tennis starlet at the Bausch & Lomb Championships. After opening her tournament with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of Czech Republic, she needed 3 ½ hours to stave off Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues in the R16 on Thursday. Sharapova went the distance to gut out a 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-6(1) triumph over Garrigues. Now, yet another marathon match in the quarterfinal today and Sharapova barely escapes to keep her campaign alive.

Sharapova has never won a clay court title. By reaching the final four here, she equals her career best results on clay – namely reaching the 2007 French Open semifinal. Next up for Sharapova is the winner of the quarterfinal between Davenport vs. Szavay.

Now let me just put this out there dear tennis bettors: based on Sharapova’s performance here, particularly the last two matches contested, it is hard to see her enter the semifinal as the overwhelming favorite. Especially if her challenger is three-time Bausch& Lomb Champion Lindsay Davenport.

In Davenport, Sharapova will find her biggest challenge of the tournament. Admittedly, clay is Sharapova’s biggest challenge – a surface she has yet to contest a final match on – but in order to do one better than her career best result on clay, Sharapova would have to overcome an in-form Davenport. Championship credentials and success in Amelia Island converge to make Davenport a potential stumbling block for the Russian’s hope of reaching her maiden clay court final here. I expect the odds will be tight and the match will a close one, as these two tennis stars vie for a premier position in the final movement of the Championships.

Also through to the semifinal in the bottom half of the draw is Alize Cornet of France. The 18-year-old topped Virginie Razzano in the quarterfinals today and will play the winner of the quarterfinal between Dominika Cibulkova vs. Amelie Mauresmo (scheduled tonight).

As the Bausch & Lomb Championships moves towards Sunday’s finale, BetUS will be taking action on Saturday’s semifinal as well as Sunday’s final, so there is a whole lot of tennis betting in store for you over the weekend. Have fun betting on tennis!

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