posted February 29, 2008 at 14:08 in Tennis Betting Trends

Acapulco, Mexico – Top seed Flavia Pennetta breezed into the semifinals with a victory over eighth seed Edina Gallovitis and seventh seed Kaia Kanepi persevered against Sorana Cristea to secure her berth in the final four. In the bottom-half of the draw, Jill Craybas booked her passage into the semifinals when she beat Iveta Benesova and second seed Alizia Cornet cruised past Mariya Koryttseva.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

WTA Singles – Quarterfinal Results:

(1) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. (8) Edina Gallovits (ROU) 76(4) 61

(7) Kaia Kanepi (EST) d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 62 46 76(6)

Jill Craybas (USA) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE) 64 61

(2) Alize Cornet (FRA) d. Mariya Koryttseva (UKR)6-4, 6-0

Tennis Betting Line: Flavia Pennetta vs. Kaia Kanepi

Match Time: 2:00PM Eastern Time, Friday February 28, 2008

Tennis Prediction: No.30 Flavia Penetta of Italy is enjoying a great start to her 2008 season winning one title – Vina del Mar – and reaching her third semifinal of the season. Pennetta reached the semifinal in Hobart (l. to Eleni Daniilidou) and met Pauline Brigitte Parmentier in the semifinal of Vina del Mar en route to her title victory. Penetta brings a 1-1 semifinal record into this matchup and an overall 13-5 record for the season. Penetta reached the final in 2007, where she lost to Emilie Loit of France in a close 7-6(0), 6-4 contest. This is Penetta’s second shot for at the title in Acapulco.

Pennetta is the better play in this matchup, and recommending her on the money line is her recent victory over No. 67 Kaia Kanepi of Estonia in the quarterfinals of Vina del Mar.

Tennis Free Picks: Pennetta in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Jill Craybas vs. Alizia Cornet

Match Time: 2:00PM Eastern Time, Friday February 28, 2008

Tennis Prediction: Veteran tennis player, 33-year-old Jill Craybas reaches her second semifinal of the year. In Pattaya City, Craybas defeated Akgul Amanmuradova in her first semifinal contest, before losing in the final to fast-rising teenage tennis sensation, Agnieska Radwanska. Craybas takes a perfect 1-0 record in semifinal matches and a 12-5 record for the season into this matchup.

Second seed No.52 Alize Cornet arrives in her first semifinal of the season on the merit of her best performance in tournament play this season. The 18-year-old French up-and-coming tennis player will be the underdog in this match, but after her 6-4, 6-0 Mariya Koryttseva in the quarterfinal, Cornet could be inspired to replicate her performance against Craybas to reach her first final of the year.

Tennis Free Picks: Cornet in straight sets

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