WTA Indian Wells: Schnyder kicks off First Round action

Indian Wells, California – Veteran Patty Schnyder officially kicks off the WTA Indian Wells tourney when she begins her campaign against Tathiana Garbin. Meanwhile, Iveta Benesova will be looking to find form when she takes on Olga Govortsova, another player conspicuously off form this season.

Tennis Betting Line:

Patty Schnyder -140 21½ O +105 U -145
Tathiana Garbin Ev 21½ O +105 U -145

First Set Line: Patty Schnyder -130 Tathiana Garbin -110

Match Time: 02:00 PM Eastern Time Wednesday March 10, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Patty Schnyder takes a 3-0 H2H edge over Tathiana Garbin into her first round match but the mark is seriously out of date; over eight years ago was their last meeting. As such, it bears no significance on their upcoming encounter.

If there were a tipping balance, it would be form. Schnyder, 31, has seen very little action ahead of Indian Wells and it hasn’t been successful; she boasts a 1-2 mark. Garbin, 32, however hasn’t been exactly impressive herself; she is 5-5 on the season. In some respects, this match is a tossup, open for the taking.

Tennis Free Picks: The market favours Schnyder (marginally so though) and she has been for the most part the more successful of the two players. I suppose bettors could do no worse than falling in line with this market. Schnyder at -140 is a good play and the Under 21 ½ -145 is another good bet.

Tennis Betting Line:

Olga Govortsova -3½ -125 -210 21 O +105 U -145
Iveta Benesova +3½ -115 +160 21 O +105 U -145

First Set Line: Olga Govortsova -180 Iveta Benesova +140

Match Time: 04:00 PM Eastern Time Wednesday March 10, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Olga Govortsova takes a 1-0 edge into her match against Iveta Benesova, a mark she earned in Dubai this year when she beat her Czech opposite 6-4, 6-1 in the first round, en route to a third round finish. Because their H2H is recent, Govortsova is the favourite, listed at -210. Benesova naturally weighs in as the underdog at +160.

While the bookies casting for this billing might be correct, I am not so sure such a disparity, though modest, in their odds is warranted. I think this match will be tighter than the betting line suggests and both players more into it, which makes this a bit of a tossup. Very little separates these two players on paper.

They are both off form, 2-6 in play this season, and ranked within a few places apart. This match is for the taking and it remains to be seen which player will rise to the occasion.

Tennis Free Picks: If anything, I fancy Benesova to take this match only because she already lost once to Govortsova and might have figured out how to tailor her game towards a more successful outcome. As such, her +160 odds are more tempting and offer better value for your risk. If bucking the trend is your thing that is. If not, go for Govortsova but hedge your bets with Benesova on the spread at + 3 ½ -115.

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