WTA US Open Betting – Ivanovic, Pavlyuchenkova and Pennetta Eye Third Round

Flushing Meadows, New York –  Ana Ivanovic, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Flavia Pennetta are bidding for a spot in the US Open third round.

Ivanovic takes on Virginie Razzano, Pavlyuchenkova will face Gisela Dulko and Pennetta takes on Shahar Peer. All three are solid favourites to advance. Can they avoid the upset bug that is wreaking havoc with the tournament?

Here is a look at their matchups, complete with BetUS tennis betting odds and lines.

Tennis Betting Line: Virgine Razzano     +300        Ana Ivanovic     -500   
Match Time: 01:30 PM Eastern Time (10:30 AM Pacific Time) Thursday September 3, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: It is nice to see Ivanovic finally winning some matches. The former world No.1 and French Open champion has been struggling for some time now. What’s even worse than her shabby form is the fact that her critics have been only too eager to voice their opinions while she’s been down. Give the girl a break, I say.

To the match at hand,  Ivanovic takes a 1-1 head-to-head mark into her clash with Virginie Razzano. Encouraging for the Serbian starlet is her recent upswing in form – she was a semi-finalist in Cincinnati and had it not been for an injury during the match who’s to say what would have happened.

I like what I’ve seen so far. Most of all, I feel that she has some of her confidence back. She’ll need it against Razzano.

Tennis Free Picks: Ivanovic in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Pavlyuchenkova   -300         Gisela Dulko     +200     
Match Time: 01:30 PM Eastern Time (10:30 AM Pacific Time) Thursday September 3, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: It will be the first career meeting between Pavlyuchenkova and Dulko. The Russian teenager is one of the biggest hitters in the game and a player on the rise. She is 35-16 ahead of her third round clash and ranked at No.22. In my opinion, she is the better bet.

Dulko got a free pass into the second round when Azarenka was forced to retire mid-match with a concussion (so it was later determined). Dulko only played six games against Azarenka, not nearly enough to get her measure.

Tennis Free Picks: Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Shahar Peer  +200        Flavia Pennetta     -300 

Match Time: 01:30 PM Eastern Time (10:30 AM Pacific Time) Thursday September 3, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Pennetta is a solid -300 favourite to win outright over Shahar Peer. There is much to recommend the Italian, especially a 3-1 lifetime head-to-head edge over the Israeli.
Peer has the more recent win though, having beaten Pennetta at Indian Wells. The match was hard fought and while she thoroughly deserved the win at the time, she was in better form then. Recently, Peer has slowed down and doesn’t loom as threateningly as she did in the Californian desert.

I fancy Pennetta to level the score on 2010 and improve her overall head-to-head over Peer. Of course, I expect it will be a tough match as very little separates these two in many respects.

Tennis Free Picks: Pennetta in three sets