in Tennis Free Picks

Dubai, UAE
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Tier II
Prize $1,500,000  
Surface: Hardcourt/Outdoors

With the quarterfinals of the Dubai Women’s Open only a few hours away, the head-to-head matchups are by and large amongst the  seeded players with the exception of the lone unseeded Eleni Daniilidou. With a prize purse of $231,080 for the winner of the Dubai Duty Free Women’s Open at stake, let us look at the odds for the quarterfinalists at this event.

Prediction: World No. 3 and second seed at the Dubai Open Mauresmo is the player that perhaps should win this match, however it is interesting to note that No. 19 and eighth seed Daniela Hantuchova leads 3-2 in their head-to-heads. Clearly the lesser ranked Hantuchova is capable of topping Mauresmo. The question is can she do it at the quarterfinals of the Dubai Open.

Indeed Mauresmo has redeemed herself by claiming the diamond racket at the 2007 Proximus Diamond Games, however that does not make her the sure bet in this matchup. Leading up to the 2007 Proximus Diamond Games, Mauresmo has crashed out of tournaments early against lesser-ranked players, and only just last week has regained some of the confidence in her.

On the other hand, Daniela Hantuchova has a tendency to be inconsistent, making her also a risky bet. However, should she cash in on her underdog status in this matchup it could prove to be a payout you would not want to miss out on! So what does the tennis bettor do?

Well if all goes according to predictions, the Mauresmo is the sure bet, however should Hantuchova orchestrate the upset then you would have been wise to cover both ends. At the very least, a small bet should be considered with her price tag.

Free Tennis Pick: Going against expectations, Hantuchova in three sets.
Result: Amelie Mauresmo (2) def. Daniela Hantuchova (8), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4


Prediction: This is another interesting matchup between the two seeded players. World No. 6 Martina Hingis is one of the great tennis players of our time and her accolades speak for themselves. Hingis has reached her highest rank at No. 6 since her comeback in 2006 and has the potential to break through to the top five in the WTA ranks by years end.

With already one Tour singles title in the bag for 2007, her fifth overall Tokyo Pan Pacific singles title, the most in the tournaments history, Hingis is now 43-25 in lifetime Tour single finals. Moreover, except for Roland Garros, Hingis has won every major Tour event (Grand Slams, Tour Championships and Tier I tournaments), including all four surfaces, at least once in her career.

On the other hand, Jelena Jankovic is one of the young talents on the Tour that should definitely be watched. Since her turn around year in 2005 she has been climbing the ranks steadily and advancing deep into most of the tournaments she participates in.

Having faced Martina Hingis once in 2007 at the Sydney Final and defeating her in the first round, Jelena Jankovic is capable of advancing past Hingis. This matchup could go either. Jankovic’s power-game can put to test Hingis’s remarkable return game. On the other hand, Hingis can have Jankovic on the run.

Free Tennis Pick: Despite Jankovic’s 1-0 lead in their head-to-heads, I think Hingis is up to evening the score. Hingis in three sets.
Result: Jelena Jankovic (5) def. Martina Hingis (4), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2

Prediction: Seeded third at this tournament, the World No. 5 Svetlana Kuznetsova leads 4-2 in head-to-heads over Patty Schnyder. Favored in this matchup, Svetlana Kuznetsova should be able to advance past the sixth seed and World  No. 13 Patty Schneider according to expectations. However,  Patty Schnyder is not necessarily an unlikely bet, and it would not be a stretch of the imagination to see her upset the favorite.

Pick: Kuznetsova in straight sets
Result: Svetlana Kuznetsova (3) def. Patty Schnyder (6), 6-3, 6-4
Prediction: Back on the Tour after missing the Australian Open, the former World No. 1 Justine Henin is just starting to get back into her own. In 2006 she had a spectacular campaign and aside from being side tracked earlier on this year by personal issues, Justine Henin has given no indication that she is not one of the women to beat. Can Eleni Daniilidou beat Justine Henin? Without hesitation the resounding answer is No.

Pick: Henin in straight sets.
Result: Justine Henin (1) def. Eleni Daniilidou, 6-0, 6-2

Federer might be winning everything these days, but with online sports betting in the BetUS.com to earn cold, hard cash!

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