Clijsters into QFs; Dementieva upended in Montreal

Tennis Betting Lines

08/19/2010 - Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters was an easy third-round victor, while defending Rogers Cup champ Elena Dementieva was an upset victim Thursday at this $2 million Canadian event, a U.S. Open tune- up.

The fifth-seeded former world No. 1 Clijsters pummeled Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-1 on the hardcourts at Uniprix Stadium. The big-serving Kanepi was a surprise Wimbledon quarterfinalist last month.

Clijsters is the reigning U.S. Open champ and fresh off her title in Cincinnati last week. She captured this Rogers Cup tournament, in Toronto, in 2005.

Up next for Clijsters in Friday's quarterfinals will be quality Russian Vera Zvonareva.

Chinese Zheng Jie stunned a fourth-seeded Dementieva in 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 fashion. Zheng was a surprise Aussie Open semifinalist back in January.

The two-time major runner-up and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Dementieva beat former No. 1 Maria Sharapova in last year's all-Russian Rogers Cup finale in Toronto, as this event shifts between Toronto and Montreal each year.

Former top-10 star Svetlana Kuznetsova continued her recent winning ways by ousting seventh-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 on Day 4. The 11th-seeded two-time major champion Kuznetsova corralled her eighth win in nine tries on Thursday and was a titlist in San Diego two weeks ago.

Kuznetsova's quarterfinal opponent will be Zheng.

The aforementioned eighth-seeded Zvonareva added another win to her great summer, as she cooled off red-hot Hungarian Agnes Szavay in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Szavay had won her last 12 matches heading into Thursday and was seeking a third title in three events, with recent titles coming in Budapest and Prague.

Zvonareva was the Wimbledon runner-up to the great Serena Williams last month.

Meanwhile, surging 10th-seeded Belarusian Victoria Azarenka drilled ninth- seeded Chinese Li Na 6-3, 6-3 and 17th-seeded former Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli of France leveled Czech qualifier Iveta Benesova 6-0, 6-1. The lefthanded Benesova stunned top-seeded former world No. 1 Serb Jelena Jankovic here in the second round.

The world No. 13 Azarenka titled in Stanford three weeks ago and has now won eight of her last nine matches.

Azarenka and Bartoli will lock horns here on Friday.

This week's winner will earn $350,000.

Earthilnk Tennis Betting News

<< Sox C Saltalamacchia on DL with infection
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox placed back-up catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia on the 15-day disabled list Thursday after doctors discovered an infection in his right leg. The Boston Globe reported that Saltalamacchia wen

<< Clijsters charges into Montreal QFs
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters was an easy third-round victor Thursday at the $2 million Rogers Cup, a U.S. Open tune- up. The fifth-seeded former world No. 1 Clijsters pummeled Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-2

<< Kansas City's Bunbury suspended for match vs. New England
Kansas City, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kansas City Wizards striker Teal Bunbury has been suspended one game and fined $250 by the Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee, it was announced Thursday. The decision comes following a

<< Djokovic, Murray land in Cincy quarters
Mason, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time runner-up Novak Djokovic and former champion Andy Murray recorded third-round victories Thursday at the $3 million Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, a U.S. Open Series event. The s

<< Whitney champ Blame training for Jockey Club Gold Cup
Saratoga Springs, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Four-year-old colt Blame, fresh off his victory in the Whitney Handicap, had a half-mile workout Thursday morning at Saratoga. The Al Stall, Jr. trainee is being prepared for the $750,000 Jockey

G-Men sign QB Randolph; Sorgi out with sore shoulder >>
Albany, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Giants signed quarterback Dominic Randolph on Thursday, to address a growing issue under center. The move came after it was revealed that backup QB Jim Sorgi has an arm injury, and, accor

Mets activate C Barajas >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets activated catcher Rod Barajas from the 15-day disabled list Thursday. Barajas had been on the DL since July 27 with a strained left oblique. Prior to his stint on the DL, he was b

Federer, Djokovic, Murray land in Cincy quarters >>
Mason, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time runner-up Novak Djokovic and former champion Andy Murray recorded third-round victories, while reigning titlist Roger Federer entered the quarterfinals via walkover Thursday at the $3 million Western &a

Venable and Latos help Padres complete sweep of Cubs >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Will Venable drove in two runs and Mat Latos tossed seven solid innings, as the San Diego Padres defeated the Chicago Cubs, 5-3, to complete a rare four-game sweep at Wrigley Field. Jerry Hairston Jr. and

Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray reach Cincy QFs >>
Mason, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 superstar Rafael Nadal, two-time runner-up Novak Djokovic and former champion Andy Murray recorded third-round victories, while reigning titlist Roger Federer entered the quarterfinals via walkover Thu

Elite 8 NCAA Tournament Betting at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

In what should be an outstanding Saturday of March Madness betting action, the top four teams in the South and West Regions square off in what should be extremely close match-ups. Three of the four teams are coming off extremely close games on Thursday evening, only UCLA won semi comfortably over Pitt 64-55.

Ohio State is coming off their second game in a row where in all reality they should have lost. Of course that doesn’t matter now since the name of the game is “survive and advance” but as the tournament continues, they can’t afford to keep getting down to their opponents early. Kansas also avoided a scare by holding off a scrappy Southern Illinois squad. In the third thrilling game of the evening Memphis pulled off the minor upset (+3.5) despite being the higher seed to Texas A&M.

Although the spreads are fairly small for Saturday’s games, MySportsbook.com continue to bet against the underdogs. Despite OSU’s two scares, 86% of the “betting public” feels the Buckeyes (-1.5) have what it takes to make the Final Four. In fact, so much of the early money is on OSU that the line has already moved from -1 to -1.5. In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas and their high-powered offense are 2 point favorites as they take on UCLA and their effective defense. About 63% of the early money thus far is once again backing the favorites. If those percentages stay that high, don’t be surprised if this line moves as well. If you like Kansas (-2) you might want to jump on it early.

Memphis vs. Ohio State

Both squads were involved in thrillers on Thursday evening and should come out fired up. OSU can ill afford to get behind early like they did versus their previous two opponents (Xavier, Tennessee). Greg Oden needs to stay out of foul trouble; the Buckeyes are a completely different team when he is on the court. Memphis definitely has the athleticism and length to match-up with OSU. Of Memphis’ five leading minute earners, the shortest of the bunch is 6’5”. Each team has a very effective defense; Memphis surrenders 62.3 PPG whereas the Buckeyes give up only 61 PPG. With those type of numbers, it isn’t surprising that Memphis covered the UNDER almost 69% of the time this season. As a favorite, OSU has covered the UNDER almost 66% of the time over the last three seasons. The major concern for Memphis which is magnifies this time of the year is their brutal foul shooting (62%). This season, OSU is 17-11 ATS versus teams with a winning record and 7-2 ATS in all tournament games. Memphis has been an extremely reliable cover in tournament play in recent years with a 23-8 ATS record over the last three seasons.

UCLA vs. Kansas

In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, UCLA will play in a role which they are very unfamiliar with that of the underdog. Only twice this season have they been getting points from the handicappers and both times they covered. Over the last three seasons UCLA is a reliable 23-7 ATS in this unfamiliar role. UCLA has not fared well against Big 12 opponents recently going 1-7 ATS since 1997. Giving up only 59.6 PPG, UCLA will definitely look to do what they do best: keep this game as low scoring as possible. Their defense has been especially tough during the tournament. UCLA opponents have been able to muster up only 48.7 PPG while shooting a combined 34.5% from the field. UCLA definitely has a challenge at hand with a Kansas team that is capable of putting points on the board in bunches. As a team, they average 79 PPG and shoot an impressive 49.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. During the tournament Kansas has been “lights out” from the field having shot 56.2%.

With Friday -105 juice on Basketball betting, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on all of the “March Madness” action.  Don’t forget to monitor who the public is backing at MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.  By doing so, you have the best chance of predicting a possible line change, thus getting the best value for your wager.

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards