in Tennis Articles

Memphis, TN – Tommy Haas defended his title at the RMK Championships on Sunday with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 victory over Andy Roddick. Claiming his third RMK title, Tommy Haas became the second three-time winner of this event, a feat only accomplished ironically by Roddick’s coach. Jimmy Connors.

For the sports betting enthusiast, an interesting tidbit here is that, with this RMK title, World No. 9 Tommy Haas has not lost a final since he lost to Andre Agassi in Rome 2002. It is his sixth straight title after making a finals and his 11th overall.

On the other hand, while Roddick jumped one spot over the weekend in the ATP ranks to No. 3, his loss at the RMK, following on the heels of his loss at last week’s SAP Open finals to Andy Murray and his loss at the at the US Open finals last year to Roger Federer, further extends his losing streak at a finals. His last finals victory was in Cincinnati in August of last year.

Rotterdam, Netherlands – It was only a matter of time before Mikhail Youzhny, who has had a great 2007 campaign advancing deep into tournaments, finally captured his first singles title of the year. On Sunday, the unseeded Mikhail Youzhny’s run in Rotterdam concluded in a straight set victory over the third seed Ivan Ljubicic 6-2, 6-4. The ABN AMRO title is Youzhny’s third career title. Moreover, his performance moved him up four spots in the ATP ranks; he broke into the Top 20 at No.18. But don’t think he is done just yet. Youzhny, one of the hottest young men on the ATP Tour, is poised to make a few more leaps and bounds before the year-end ATP ranks are determined.

Memphis, TN – Venus Williams, listed at -135 in the BetUS.com sportsbook, returned to the Tour in winning style, defeating No. 1 seed Shahar Peer -105 in resounding straight sets 6-1, 6-1 on Saturday night. Although the RMK Championships & The South Cellular Cup is her 34th career title, it is a mere Tier III event, far below her last title and fifth career Grand Slam, the 2005 Wimbledon. Nevertheless Venus Williams has played little in the past eight months and, with her victory this weekend and her sister Serena’s victory at the 2007 Australian Open, is there any doubt that the Williams sisters are back?

Dubai, UAE – Top seed Justine Henin successfully defended her title at the Dubai Duty Free Women’s Open, defeating Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 7-5 Henin claimed her fourth Dubai Open title and extended her winning streak to an event-record high sixteen matches.

Although Amelie Mauresmo was defeated on Saturday in Dubai, it was her second consecutive finals appearance since her victory in Antwerp, Belgium at the Proximus Diamond Games, suggesting that she may have put her shaky start to 2007 behind her.

Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.