[Snowball]

I'm backing Sorona Cirstea to clear the First Round
at Carlsbad. It's just a short trip from Bank West.
She is looking very impressive lately. Of course she was
way over her head playing against Williams, but it was a
learning experience. She should have no problem overpowering
Sloane Stephens on a Hard court. She is likely to also be
mindful about getting too cavalier. I expect her to manage nicely
and progress deeper into the WTA Carlsbad.

Stephens lost in the first round at Bank West to Heather Watson.
Both Watson and Stephens are exactly 32-35 on Hard (when I post
these records, it's since 2008). Not impressive. Stephens plays
better on Clay (34-18). Cirstea is 55-50 on Hard. She ranks 38
in WTA, with an increasing number of wags saying she is a prospect
to move up significantly.

I think the early line here is a score.
Cirstea (-120) to win First Round at Carlsbad.
(overweight wager)

[cleaveland]

Cirstea always looks impressive.

[Snowball]

I'm "BACKING" Sorona Cirstea.

::cough::

[MUHerd37]

Fukk Sloane Stephens! Totally screwed me last week. I hope Cirstea pounds that bitch into the pavement!!!!!!!!!!!

[Snowball]

If Sorona is FOR REAL she will take this
and I believe she IS. There are still doubters, who
don't think she's polished enough.
i think they are going off at 11am PST 2pm EST

[Pinocchio]

Cirstea is a major nut case. Can be up 5-1 in the third and still lose. I would not touch her against Stephens.
Take the over instead.

[MUHerd37]

Cirstea just needs to learn that she doesn't have to win on every shot.

[Snowball]

I'm confident she wins. I like what I saw at Bank West,
and Stephens couldn't even beat Heather Watson.
Cirstea's strategy against Serena was ill-advised, or ill-conceived
on her part, but she's a winner just for making it to Finals.
She's on her way to becoming a real name and won't blow it.

[cleaveland]

I'm "BACKING" Sorona Cirstea.

::cough::

What does this statement mean?

[ColdBeerHere]

tailin' ya for a unit...hope the Kool Aid Man delivers

[shimeon40]

pinocchio is a good judge on tennis..what u suggest today woody?

[jbart28]

Sloan Stephens is no joke. She has a huge forehand and a big serve. GL. I am on the over. Sloan is young so she is inconsistent sometimes but she had lisicki at Wimbledon.

[Snowball]

line up a little to -125.

[MagicDiceFlow]

Cirstea has the talent but is too raw in her current form. She tries way too hard to hit winners on every single stroke. It's like she's trying to showboat every single point which in the long run doesnt win you matches consistently. Her unforced errors rate is very unstable. She could become a lot better player if she balances out her game more with stable groundstrokes. Total coinflip....Best of luck though.


Just fyi, they're not scheduled to play until much later this evening, around 9pm Pacific time:

http://www.mercuryinsuranceopen.com/Schedules/OOP.aspx

[Snowball]

i realize there is risk. that's why it's a low line even though she
was just in the finals at Bank West.
if readers see undue risk, they make their own decisions.
sometimes you gotta to stick your neck out.
i am up a lot in the last couple months and playing with house winnings.
i also have my MLB chase/fade plays to fall back on.
No less confident today than I was yesterday, but you all raise
the necessary concerns about Sorona, that's why it's -120 to -125.

[Pinocchio]

Stephens is tougher of the two mentally - kind of matters when it's 4:5, and you're serving. If I had to bet here, I'd actually bet Stephens. I would only consider Cirstea (who probably is playing a bit better right now overall) if Stephens was a proven choker herself.

pinocchio is a good judge on tennis..what u suggest today woody?

Today I was only hoping to take Anna Lena Friedsam and Garbine Muguruza Blanco. But no book offered them (bet365 only offered matches played on centre court).
From what's left today, Scheepers vs Vandeweghe over 22.5 maybe.

[younghandicapper]

What do you guys think about Malisse today?

[MagicDiceFlow]

What do you guys think about Malisse today?

Malisse should be able to beat Soeda but I can't pull the trigger at -200 on clay. Malisse is dominant on grass but totally different player on clay. Malisse has also been playing a lot of tennis the past several weeks. Fatigue or perhaps loss of drive might come into play. It's not a bad bet but again, can't do it with that odds on clay. Good Luck though.

[nycyellow9]

Malisse should be able to beat Soeda but I can't pull the trigger at -200 on clay. Malisse is dominant on grass but totally different player on clay. Malisse has also been playing a lot of tennis the past several weeks. Fatigue or perhaps loss of drive might come into play. It's not a bad bet but again, can't do it with that odds on clay. Good Luck though.

ATL is a hard court

[MagicDiceFlow]

ATL is a hard court

You're right, my book had him listed playing at Hamburg for some reason. Also noticed the line dipped below -180 just now. I found better value and sprinkled a few units on CZINK at -110. Karatantcheva has played nothing but qualies and still struggled at that. Getting Czink at almost even money has excellent value.

[Snowball]

i hate waiting until 11pm for a tennis match.

Stephens is only 19 years old. For some reason I thought
she was older than that. Sorona is 22.

[Snowball]

line now -130.

[Dmoneytx]

Fukk Sloane Stephens! Totally screwed me last week. I hope Cirstea pounds that bitch into the pavement!!!!!!!!!!!

She did the same thing to me Herd!! I hope Cristea bitch slaps her HARD!!

[MagicDiceFlow]

This is strange, if you log into the tournament website, they just removed CIRSTEA's name for tonight's match and has OUDIN VS STEPHENS now. Earlier this morning it showed Cirstea vs Stephens. Did Cirstea just withdraw or something?

http://www.mercuryinsuranceopen.com/Schedules/OOP.aspx

[MagicDiceFlow]

Just found out Cirstea isnt playing tonight guys. Oudin has taken her place. There's also new odds posted on Stephens tonight at -300. Don't know what happened to Cirstea:

http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?p=21856344

[ParlayininHTown]

This is strange, if you log into the tournament website, they just removed CIRSTEA's name for tonight's match and has OUDIN VS STEPHENS now. Earlier this morning it showed Cirstea vs Stephens. Did Cirstea just withdraw or something?

http://www.mercuryinsuranceopen.com/Schedules/OOP.aspx

Thank you for the info, MDF.

[MagicDiceFlow]

Thank you for the info, MDF.

No problem....just wanted to warn you guys so that your money doesnt get tied up.

[Snowball]

now i have to contact the book. unreal
after all this waiting.
hard to imagine the tournament getting away with changing the schedule.
She must be pulling out ?

[BrianLaverty]

now i have to contact the book. unreal
after all this waiting.
hard to imagine the tournament getting away with changing the schedule.
She must be pulling out ?

You can't be serious? You think they are changing it for no reason?

She has an abdominal strain & withdrew from the tourney. Oudin was the alternate... hence, Oudin vs. Stephens.

[Pinocchio]

Okay now, everybody - play Stephens -1.5.

[MUHerd37]

5Dimes doesn't have the match up yet?

[ParlayininHTown]

5Dimes doesn't have the match up yet?

This sucks ... I wanted to make a small bet on this match to cap the night, but it seems no one has a line up.

Unreal.

[EaglesPhan36]

5Dimes has it. Stephens -260 & Oudin +220. You're not going to get anything besides the MLs.

[MagicDiceFlow]

Heritage has a line up, Stephens -265. I'm thinking about putting a few units on Stephens. She's going to crush Oudin.

[EaglesPhan36]

Line dropping. Your time zone math is off. It's only 8:23 right now in California.