Roger Federer on course for first French title
Roger Federer on course for first French title
Thanks to Robin Soderling's upset of Rafael Nadal to oust the four-time defending champ, Roger Federer has his best shot at finally capturing the elusive French Open. But while he praises Soderling now, Federer may be cursing him later as the two appear to be on course for a collision at Roland Garros. On the ladies side of the event, No. 1 Dinara Safina is also seeking her first French title.
Betting on history is fun, isn’t it?
After it looked like Roger Federer was never going to win the French Open, Robin Soderling shocked Rafael Nadal to open the door for the 13-time Grand Slam winner. He’ll have to go through Juan Martin del Potro to get to the final, where he could face the man who knocked off his nemesis.
The women’s side of the draw is likely to be forgotten in a couple of years, but at least there’s the all-important dollar to be made. Svetlana Kuznetsova is likely the public choice after getting by Serena Williams in the quarterfinals, while Dinara Safina looks to cement her No. 1 WTA ranking.
Men’s Semifinal
No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro vs. No. 2 Roger Federer
With Federer listed as a -400 favorite against del Potro (+275), bettors should be looking for reasons to bet the Argentinian. That’s hard to do with Federer on the verge of his first career French Open title, and because del Potro is 0-5 against Federer on the ATP Tour.
del Potro pulled off a workmanlike 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 payday over Tommy Robredo in the quarterfinals, so he’ll have a fighting chance against Federer. It doesn’t help that Federer has yet to drop a set in five matches against Del Potro, making even most prop bets on the World No. 5 difficult to swallow.
Pick: Federer
No. 23 Robin Soderling vs. No. 12 Fernando Gonzalez
This could be the match of the Open on the tennis betting odds board, with Soderling (+115) playing the best tennis of his career and Gonzalez (-155) coming off an impressive dismantling (6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4) of No. 3 Andy Murray in the quarters. While Soderling’s stunning upset of No. 1 Nadal gets all the mainstream press, the 24-year old Swede also ripped No. 10 Nikolai Davydenko 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 to get to Gonzalez.
I went with the chalk in Federer, so I’ll have to go with the (slim) value in the red-hot Soderling.
Pick: Soderling
Women’s Semifinal
No. 20 Dominika Cibulkova vs. No. 1 Dinara Safina
The best trend going for Cibulkova (+450) is that since 1997, the top seed has only won at Roland Garros on one occasion. That being the case, it’s still hard to handicap the Slovak to knock off Safina (-750), who is 20-1 since becoming the No. 1 player in the world back on April 20.
Safina comes into the semis after dropping Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the quarters, and has beaten Cibulkova twice on hardcourt. Looks like the latter will have to be content with taking out Maria Sharapova in the Round of 8.
Pick: Safina
No. 30 Samantha Stosur vs. No. 7 Svetlana Kuznetsova
I want to put money on Stosur (+330), who brings the value coming off her easy 6-1, 6-3 win over Sorana Cirstea, but I can’t ignore Kuznetsova’s non-meltdown against No. 2 Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.
Usually the one to choke, it was Kuznetsova who turned the tables late on Serena in her 7-6 (3), 5-7, 7-5 victory over the 11-time Grand Slam champion. Back in the semifinals after falling to Safina last June, Kuznetsova (-500) is famous for folding in high-pressure situations; she’s likely to hold on against Stosur.
Pick: Kuznetsova
Chance’s Men’s Final: Soderling vs. Federer
It almost goes without saying this could very well be a Federer-Gonzalez, or God forbid for Roger, a del Potro appearance in the final, but such is the life of a sportsbetting writer with deadlines.
Soderling beat Nadal at the French Open. Reading that again makes me want to drain my bank account on Soderling, and considering Federer is 0-4 since 2005 at Roland Garros against Nadal, that is the sharp play.
Thing is, Federer is also 28-0 against everyone else in Paris during that span. Get out the history books.
Pick: Federer
Chance’s Women’s Final: Kuznetsova vs. Safina
This will be lackluster if it’s opposite Federer looking to win the French/tie Pete Sampras’ record for career Grand Slams, but handicappers shouldn’t discriminate against the ladies.
Safina’s cakewalk over Kuznetsova in last year’s semis has to count for something, but so does the latter’s triumph over Serena. Safina has waltzed through the tourney so far, and she could destroy Cibulkova. If that happens, she’ll be blitzed in the early going by a Kuznetsova still buoyed by her win over Williams.
Pick: Kuznetsova
Thanks to Robin Soderling's upset of Rafael Nadal to oust the four-time defending champ, Roger Federer has his best shot at finally capturing the elusive French Open. But while he praises Soderling now, Federer may be cursing him later as the two appear to be on course for a collision at Roland Garros. On the ladies side of the event, No. 1 Dinara Safina is also seeking her first French title.
Betting on history is fun, isn’t it?
After it looked like Roger Federer was never going to win the French Open, Robin Soderling shocked Rafael Nadal to open the door for the 13-time Grand Slam winner. He’ll have to go through Juan Martin del Potro to get to the final, where he could face the man who knocked off his nemesis.
The women’s side of the draw is likely to be forgotten in a couple of years, but at least there’s the all-important dollar to be made. Svetlana Kuznetsova is likely the public choice after getting by Serena Williams in the quarterfinals, while Dinara Safina looks to cement her No. 1 WTA ranking.
Men’s Semifinal
No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro vs. No. 2 Roger Federer
With Federer listed as a -400 favorite against del Potro (+275), bettors should be looking for reasons to bet the Argentinian. That’s hard to do with Federer on the verge of his first career French Open title, and because del Potro is 0-5 against Federer on the ATP Tour.
del Potro pulled off a workmanlike 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 payday over Tommy Robredo in the quarterfinals, so he’ll have a fighting chance against Federer. It doesn’t help that Federer has yet to drop a set in five matches against Del Potro, making even most prop bets on the World No. 5 difficult to swallow.
Pick: Federer
No. 23 Robin Soderling vs. No. 12 Fernando Gonzalez
This could be the match of the Open on the tennis betting odds board, with Soderling (+115) playing the best tennis of his career and Gonzalez (-155) coming off an impressive dismantling (6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4) of No. 3 Andy Murray in the quarters. While Soderling’s stunning upset of No. 1 Nadal gets all the mainstream press, the 24-year old Swede also ripped No. 10 Nikolai Davydenko 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 to get to Gonzalez.
I went with the chalk in Federer, so I’ll have to go with the (slim) value in the red-hot Soderling.
Pick: Soderling
Women’s Semifinal
No. 20 Dominika Cibulkova vs. No. 1 Dinara Safina
The best trend going for Cibulkova (+450) is that since 1997, the top seed has only won at Roland Garros on one occasion. That being the case, it’s still hard to handicap the Slovak to knock off Safina (-750), who is 20-1 since becoming the No. 1 player in the world back on April 20.
Safina comes into the semis after dropping Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the quarters, and has beaten Cibulkova twice on hardcourt. Looks like the latter will have to be content with taking out Maria Sharapova in the Round of 8.
Pick: Safina
No. 30 Samantha Stosur vs. No. 7 Svetlana Kuznetsova
I want to put money on Stosur (+330), who brings the value coming off her easy 6-1, 6-3 win over Sorana Cirstea, but I can’t ignore Kuznetsova’s non-meltdown against No. 2 Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.
Usually the one to choke, it was Kuznetsova who turned the tables late on Serena in her 7-6 (3), 5-7, 7-5 victory over the 11-time Grand Slam champion. Back in the semifinals after falling to Safina last June, Kuznetsova (-500) is famous for folding in high-pressure situations; she’s likely to hold on against Stosur.
Pick: Kuznetsova
Chance’s Men’s Final: Soderling vs. Federer
It almost goes without saying this could very well be a Federer-Gonzalez, or God forbid for Roger, a del Potro appearance in the final, but such is the life of a sportsbetting writer with deadlines.
Soderling beat Nadal at the French Open. Reading that again makes me want to drain my bank account on Soderling, and considering Federer is 0-4 since 2005 at Roland Garros against Nadal, that is the sharp play.
Thing is, Federer is also 28-0 against everyone else in Paris during that span. Get out the history books.
Pick: Federer
Chance’s Women’s Final: Kuznetsova vs. Safina
This will be lackluster if it’s opposite Federer looking to win the French/tie Pete Sampras’ record for career Grand Slams, but handicappers shouldn’t discriminate against the ladies.
Safina’s cakewalk over Kuznetsova in last year’s semis has to count for something, but so does the latter’s triumph over Serena. Safina has waltzed through the tourney so far, and she could destroy Cibulkova. If that happens, she’ll be blitzed in the early going by a Kuznetsova still buoyed by her win over Williams.
Pick: Kuznetsova