Prime Time Tennis Betting: Maria Sharapova begins

February 15, 2010 by admin
Filed under: Tennis Betting 

Memphis, USA – Topping the women’s charts is Maria Sharapova. The statuesque Russian is making her first appearance since crashing out of the 2010 Australian Open first round.

Sharapova’s lack of preparation for the Aussie Open was held as the main reason why she flopped royally. Critics pointed to her choice to compete at an Exhibition event instead of the two Aussie Open series events in Brisbane and Sydney as that which cost a positive start to the season in Melbourne.

Nevertheless, most have high expectations for her in Memphis. Conspicuously, she hasn’t seen match play since her flop though. If a lack of match play saw her fall early in Melbourne, would it not the same lack of match play have a negative effect in Memphis as well. One hopes she has put enough preparation in the off time to get her season off the ground finally.

Joining Sharapova is American darling Melanie Oudin, as the second seed. Oudin is after an impressive semi-final finish in Paris last week. She will be looking to continue her form before home fans. Many will remember Oudin from last US Open and her giant-killing spree into the quarters, of which Sharapova was one giant. Because Sharapova and Oudin are the top-two seeds, they can only collide in the final Might Sharapova and Oudin find such good form to make a date in the finale [insert dramatic shiver]

Tennis Betting Line:

Maria Sharapova -6½ -125 -2500 18 O -110 U -130
Shenay Perry +6½ -115 +900 18 O -110 U -130

First Set Line: Maria Sharapova -1000 Shenay Perry +500

Match Time: 08:00 PM Eastern Time Monday February 15, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Before Sharapova can look that far ahead, or for that matter as close as the second round, she has a tricky first round encounter against American hopeful Shenay Perry. Playing against a crowd favourite is never easy but playing against a player that you are not so familiar with is even trickier. Sharapova and Perry collided twice in their careers but their meetings came in 2002 and 2003. They split the meetings but we can safely assume neither of those results will bear any weight on their upcoming clash.

Sharapova is 0-1 on the season and enters the first round as the No.16 in the WTA. Perry is outside of the top 100 (at 101) and takes a positive 3-2 mark. Naturally, Sharapova is the favourite to win outright at untouchable odds of -2500. True she faltered in Melbourne but most are quick to dismiss that result because we know the competitor Sharapova is. Sharapova will look to get off to a quick start against Perry and blow her off court if she can. Therefore, Sharapova to take the first set at -1000 and to win under 18 -130 are the favoured outcomes as well as covering the spread at – 6 ½ -125.

Perry to win or take the first set is listed at discouraging odds of +900 and +500. Both bets would be long shots and there is nothing in Perry’s game to suggest she can mastermind the upset over Sharapova. Even if Sharapova has question marks hanging over her as she clearly does here. Tennis bettors looking to back Perry might find her a better bet to cover the spread, listed at +6 ½ -115. With home edge, she could make this a competitive affair.

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