Tennis Masters Cup - Djokovic opens Shanghai Showdown against Del Potro

Shanghai, China – The Tennis Masters Cup is finally here after a long and exciting season of tennis betting at BetUS Sportsbook. Most sports bettors would agree this year has been by far one of the best sports betting extravaganzas the sport has seen in a while and it is not without some sadness that we now find ourselves at the tail end of 2008.

What is left on the cards is by no means less thrilling though, as the top eight men in the game that have delighted us no end this season are set to contest the Tennis Masters Cup – a most privileged event indeed. And set to kick of the week long showdown for the right to hoist the Tennis Masters Cup trophy come next Sunday is none other than Novak Djokovic.

The Serbian sensation, Djokovic heads up the Gold Group, which includes Nikolay Davydenko, Jo-Wlifried Tsonga and Juan Martin Del Potro.

As one of the short-odds-on favourites to reach the knock out round/semis, Djokovic has received a tough opening challenger in red-hot betting ticket Del Potro. Djokovic has been largely a non-factor since winning his last title of the season in May – the Rome Masters. He did not do poorly as he did feature deep in several tournaments; he just didn’t win any of them.

By contrast, Juan Martin Del Potro turned up the heat in the summer months and after winning his maiden ATP title in Stuttgart, he went on an incredible run, winning four titles altogether, before his winning streak ended against Andy Murray at the US Open quarterfinals.

Tennis Betting Line: Novak Djokovic -200 Juan Martin Del Potro +150

Match Time: 1:00 AM Eastern Time Sunday November 9, 2008

Head-to-Head Analysis: Djokovic has the slight edge in this head-to-head series, having beaten Del Potro at the US Open last year. At the time though, Djokovic reached the US Open final and was in the midst of a breakout season. It would be fair to say that in 2008, Del Potro is an entirely different beast, and after having enjoyed an incredible latter half of the season, the Argentine will not be the same player Djokovic played last year.

Tennis Betting Analysis:

Djokovic -200 – Djokovic is ranked third in the World. Though the latter half of his 2008 term has fallen short of expectations, he did tally a 60-16 mark on the season and picked up three titles. Winner of the Australian Open and two Masters Shields, Djokovic has come under fire for his lackadaisical efforts of late though and as such, he is a questionable bet.

Del Potro +150 Has played with enthusiasm and passion evinced by his latter half of the season. He is overall 45-13 on the season and has four ATP titles.

Tennis Betting Verdict: Given Djokovic’s lack of enthusiasm and Del Potro’s abundance of heart, Del Potro has more than an outside chance to deliver the first upset in the tournament. This group is wide open and with several fresh faces in attendance this year in Shanghai – one of which is debutant Del Potro – anything can happen.

Tennis Free Picks: Del Potro in three sets

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