ATP Brisbane International Second Round Picks

Brisbane, Australia – The Brisbane International Open was the scene the first big –no huge – upset of the 2009 ATP season as seismic shockwaves were felt in the tennis betting world on the back of Ernests Gulbis’s victory against the 2008 Australian Open champion, Novak Djokovic. Sports bettors knew Djokovic (-500 at BetUS Sportsbook) would not have an easy time of it against Gulbis (+300) – theirs has always been an intriguing matchup. All signs suggested Djokovic would put on an elite show after his astounding victory at the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai. But things did not go fall in line with the tennis betting marketplace or expectations and Djokovic earned the dubious honour of becoming the first big casualty of 2009.

Those bettors who wagered on the puppy Gulbis were rewarded for taking the chance. It goes to show anything can happen in the game and underdogs can be bankable. So as the second round of the Brisbane International gets set to kick off, the BetUS online betting community is anxious to discover whether there are more great deals and intriguing puppies in the kennel they should shop. The answer of course is YES!

Tomorrow’s line-up (tonight for North American tennis bettors) at the Brisbane International tournament is an action-packed affair as heavyweights, ball-bashers, dark horses and potential upset-makers all collide. Here is a look at one particular value underdog that tennis bettors should consider on their wagering ticket.

Second Round Tennis Odds

Tennis Betting Line: Kei Nishikori +200 Tomas Berdych -300

Match Time: 05:15 A.M Eastern Time, Wednesday January 07, 2009

Tennis Betting Analysis: Tomas Berdych is a huge talent but after gaining the big victory against Federer at the Athens Olympics, he has demonstrated an inability to deal with the pressure and hype that came as a result. Brief flashes of brilliance are all Berdych has been able to muster and he has fluctuated in the rankings as a result. At the end of last season, Berdych fell from No.9 to No.20. Small tournaments have favoured Berdych in the past and while Brisbane is a rather small event, the line-up assembled there is by no means small peanuts in talent. Next up for Berdych is a real ball-basher, a quintessential dark horse and a decidedly dangerous upset-maker. Kei Nishikori exploded on the scene in 2008 and won his maiden ATP title at Delray Beach as a qualifier, beating home favourite James Blake in three sets.

Tennis Betting Verdict: Most bettors would like to see Berdych come through for them, he is a talented player but so far, he has become synonymous with the word “potential” only. At -300 Berdych is a good play but not a sure play. The Japanese teenager Nishikori, on the other hand, is definitely a player who can take it to Berdych and he should not be passed up on sports bettors wagering tickets. I like Nishikori to deliver another upset in Brisbane.

Tennis Free Picks: Nishikori at +200

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