ATP Indian Wells First Round Quick Picks

Indian Wells, California – The men’s Indian Wells Masters gets underway on Thursday and the market is already hopping with a whole slew of odds and lines on all the matchups scheduled. So let us get started handicapping some of those matchups.

Tennis Betting Line: Alejandro Falla +115 Florent Serra -155

First Set Line: Alejandro Falla +105 Florent Serra -145

Match Time: 02:00 PM Eastern Time Thursday March 11, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Alejandro Falla of Colombia and Florent Serra collide for the second time in their careers when they meet in the first round of the ATP Masters Indian Wells. Falla has the 1-0 edge after beating Serra in 2008 at Washington 7-6(2), 7-6(11). Falla enters this match with a 3-2 mark on the season.

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Yet in spite of all this, he is the underdog in the match, listed at +115. Serra is 4-6 on the season by contrast and the favourite listed at -155. Is it just me thinking this betting line, although tight, is lopsided.

Tennis Free Picks: Falla in three sets

Tennis Betting Line: Guillermo Garcia Lopez +135 Lukas Lacko -175

First Set Line: Guillermo Garcia Lopez +125 Lukas Lacko -165

Match Time: 02:00 PM Eastern Time Thursday March 11, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Slovak Lukas Lacko has had impressive moments in tournament play this season, namely reaching three quarterfinals in Memphis, Zagreb and Chennai, which includes victories over higher ranked, credible opposition such as Ivan Ljubicic and Jeremy Chardy and .

Lacko takes an 8-6 mark into his first round encounter against Guillermo Garcia –Lopez and the bookies vote of confidence as the favourite, carrying a price of -175. An overwhelming vote of confidence it is not but it is enough to make him the correct play. He is also the better play because Guillermo Garcia Lopez is completely off form this season, still searching for his first win.

Of course, Lopez might break duck – he simply can’t go the whole year without a match win. The question is when he will record his first win. The bookies certainly price him favourably as the mere underdog at +135 to do so here. But Lacko is hot right now and I would recommend backing the confident player over the not so confident.

Tennis Free Picks: Lacko in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Olivier Rochus -160 Fabio Fognini +120

First Set Line: Olivier Rochus -150 Fabio Fognini +110

Match Time: 02:00 PM Eastern Time Thursday March 11, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Fabio Fognini owns the 1-0 lifetime edge over Christophe Rochus but this is his first-ever clash against his younger brother, Olivier Rochus. The market has sided with Rochus, offering him at -160 to win outright and taken the opposite stance on Fognini, offering +120 odds. There really isn’t any rhyme or reason for this stance in my opinion.

At least not that I can figure out. Both players are ranked within a few spots, Fognini at No.55 and Rochus at No.59. Both have had slow starts to the season: Fognini is 3-6 while Rochus is 3-7.

I suppose the only reason why Rochus is favoured over Fognini is surface edge. Fognini does better on clay. Having said that, I think he, Fognini, has a real shot to win this match. I don’t expect it will be easy, more a slugfest.

Tennis Free Picks: Fognini in three sets