WTA Indian Wells: Jankovic and Wickmayer in third round action

Indian Wells, California – Jelena Jankovic and Yanina Wickmayer are in third round action today, a spot in the last 16 on the line. Jankovic is set to go head-to-head with Sara Errani while Wickmayer takes on Roberta Vinci. Here is a look at the mid afternoon action at BetUS.

Tennis Betting Line :

Roberta Vinci +4½ Ev +275 20 O -115 U -125
Yanina Wickmayer -4½ -140 -450 20 O -115 U -125

Match time: 05:30 PM Eastern Time Monday March 15, 2010

First Set Line: Roberta Vinci +225 Yanina Wickmayer -350

Tennis Betting Verdict: Roberta Vinci enters as the +275 puppy against Yanina Wickmayer, listed at firm -450 favourite odds. The bookies also favour Wickmayer on the spread at – 4 ½ -140 and they are leaning towards a pretty solid performance by Wickmayer on the totals, offering up the expected outcome as the Under 20 -125. With Wickmayer favoured across the board so, it would be only natural for tennis bettors to fall in line and I have to say there is little to suggest doing otherwise. Wickmayer has all the edge over Vinci and frankly, the only way I would see Wickmayer losing is if she were to have an off day or if Vinci were to simply play lights out tennis.

Tennis Free Picks: Wickmayer in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line:

Sara Errani +4 -105 +200 20½ O -120 U -120
Jelena Jankovic -4 -135 -300 20½ O -120 U -120

Match time: 07:00 PM Eastern Time Monday March 15, 2010

First Set Line: Sara Errani +150 Jelena Jankovic -200

Tennis Betting Verdict: Jankovic has been nothing to rave about this season. She arrived in Indian Wells 5-4 on the season, which included first round exits at Monterrey and Sydney, and third round at the Aussie Open and Dubai. For a former world No.1 player these results are rather disappointing. They are so because there doesn’t seem to be a logical explanation for them, no apparent physical (injury) reason for the sudden slip in form. Save for perhaps a lack of interest, maybe? Just throwing it out there.

In spite of all this, the bookies would still have Jankovic as the favourite to win outright. In theory, I can’t argue with the cast, it falls in line with the respective ranking of each player and their perceived abilities. Yet, realistically, Errani has a shot. Most matches are determined in the locker room, before the first ball is struck. If a player leaves the locker room believing they can win, they just might do so.

Errani has to have noticed Jankovic’s woes on the season and her less than formidable form. One has to believe that in knowing this Errani should see Jankovic as a beatable opponent and not one to be feared. With the psychology thus altered, would not Errani have a better chance than her odds would indicate to mastermind the upset. I certainly think so.