WTA Monterrey Open Betting: Jankovic begins bid for title
Monterrey, Mexico – Top seed Jelena Jankovic is the big name in this week’s draw at the WTA Monterrey Open. Her name is so big that most pundits expect her to win the title with ease. She is the bookies short-odds-on favourite to clean up, natch. But if there is anything, we have learned with Jankovic in the last year or so, it’s that nothing is certain. She seems to have lost some of the chutzpah and with it some of her shine, at least in my humble opinion.
A side note: I don’t believe she will have an easy time of it at all, winning the title that is. I am not saying she will not, certainly she can, but if she does, I think there are a few players along the way that will make her really earn it. Should make for some entertaining tennis in her section of the draw methinks.
Of course, it is a long way to Saturday’s finale. Jankovic has yet to begin her tournament, which she is scheduled to kickoff later today against Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia. Discussion about winning might be premature now. Should probably look at her opening match first, and wait and see how she begins her campaign before weighing on her chances for the title.
Match Betting Line:
Jelena Jankovic -6½ +105 -1400 18 O -140 U Ev
Anastasija Sevastova +6½ -145 +650
First Set Line: Jelena Jankovic -800 Anastasija Sevastova +425
Match Time: 08:00 PM Eastern Time Tuesday March 2, 2010
Tennis Betting Verdict: Jankovic is the massive favourite at -1400 to win outright and advance into the second round over Anastasija Sevastova, who, in turn, is listed at discouraging +650 odds. Tennis betting fans should not be fooled and take Jankovic’s first round odds as proof positive Jankovic will have an easy match. Nor I might add an endorsement of Jankovic in the tournament proper.
The market cast is entirely based on the indisputable “on paper” edge Jankovic has over her opposite. Jankovic at world No.9 is the clear heavyweight and Sevastova at world No. 72 is the lightweight. That said Jankovic has been anything but convincing in her first few months of the season. She is only 5-3 on the year, most notably, she has yet to reach a quarterfinal of a tournament.
On the flip side, Sevastova is a relative unknown in the game but following her first few months, she is showing some promise. She has already been involved in some big matches recently against Dushevina and Radwanska. She beat Dushevina 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 and lost to Radwanska 6-3, 6-3. Both instances though different in outcome are good accounts for the 20-year-old Latvian and should not be taken lightly.
Tennis Free Picks: Jankovic to win outright at -1400 and take the first set at -800 are the popular plays. I expect the tennis betting trend will fall in line to the tune of the market Pied Pipers. I can’t argue with the logic behind it. Jankovic checks all the on paper edges and there is no reason to assume she will not win this match. However, as I mentioned above, Jankovic is not going to have it easy. She has made the mistake of underestimating the will and tenacity of her opponents on several occasions last year and this year already. If she does so here, I think she will have a battle on her hands. For that reason alone, I think there is value in Sevastova. Her odds to win outright are large at +650 and correctly, she would be a long shot bet. But why not take the risk on the off chance she might upset Jankovic. She is young and hungry and what better stage to go into the spotlight than a minor tournament with less pressure. Cooler heads might fancy the spread at +6 ½ -145. In fact, it is the favoured outcome in the market. On the totals, I fancy the Over 18 -140, also the favoured result.
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