WTA Linz Open Quick Picks: Pennetta and Safarova in action

Linz, Austria – Top seed Flavia Pennetta and seventh seed Lucie Safarova aim to land a spot in the third round on Thursday at the Generali Ladies Linz. Pennetta is set to face Anna Lena Groenefeld while Safarova takes on Urszula Radwanska. Here is a look at their upcoming matches, currently available at the BetUS tennis betting market.

Tennis Betting Line: Flavia Pennetta -700 Anna Lena Groenefeld +400

Match Time: 06:00 A.M. Eastern Time Thursday October 15, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: No.11 Flavia Pennetta has enjoyed a standout season and she is looking to continue the momentum of these last few months as the Tour Championships close in on the season. Pennetta is an impressive 52-22 on the year with two titles in Palermo and Los Angeles. Her summer hard court highlights were a semi-final appearance in Cincinnati and New Haven and a quarterfinal run at the US Open.

She is flush of a last 16 appearance in Beijing after losing to Vera Zvonareva in a much-anticipated rematch of their last 16 encounter at Flushing. Zvonareva avenged her loss to Pennetta 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. Although Pennetta lost, she fought to the bitter end and left nothing unanswered. She lost the battle well.

Pennetta enters the Linz Open on form and a hot favourite to win the title. She trails 0-1 lifetime against Groenefeld; however, the loss is more than three years old. In this case, the head-to-head series is mute. Pennetta should win this match handily and the market favours her at a rather hefty price -700.

Tennis Free Picks: Pennetta in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Lucie Safarova -500 Urszula Radwanska +300

Match Time: 06:00 A.M. Eastern Time Thursday October 15, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Lucie Safarova enters the Linz Open as the seventh seed. The world No.41 Safarova is enjoying a modest season after totting up a tally of 33-22. Safarova is looking to reach her seventh quarterfinal on the season. Of the six quarterfinals this season, she advanced only once when she reached the final in Quebec City (l. to Czink). To date, Safarova’s biggest win was a R32 victory over Ana Ivanovic at the Rogers Cup. Safarova emerged from the qualifying round to reach the quarters (l. to Serena Williams).

Safarova takes a 1-0 edge over Urszula Radwanska into the second round and a favourite tag, listed at -500 at BetUS Sportsbook. The victory over Radwanska came in the qualies for Toronto and it was a hard fought win. Having beaten her once already Safarova should be better prepared for this second encounter on the year and win more convincingly.

Tennis Free Picks: Safarova in straight sets