Porsche Grand Prix – Dementieva and Wozniacki bid for quarters

Stuttgart, Germany – The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix enters the second round on Thursday and BetOnline Sportsbook has already rolled out online tennis odds on some marquee matchups. World No.3 Elena Dementieva, seeded second,  is set to meet Agnes Szavay of Hungary in the second round, while Caroline Wozniacki, the seventh seed, faces tough customer Marion Bartoli. A quarterfinal berth is on the line. Who will advance. Here is a look at their upcoming billings, complete with tennis betting verdicts and free picks.

Tennis Betting Line: Agnes Szavay  +375        Elena Dementieva     -650

Match Time: 07:00 A.M. Eastern Time Thursday April 30 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Elena Dementieva was one of several Russian starlets to advance to the second round in Stuttgart, but unlike her counterpart Dinara Safina, who made a confident start, she was severely tested. Wild card Anna-Lena Groenefeld took it to the second seed, forcing the match into a third set when she won the second. Dementieva survived the scare eventually 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Next up for Dementieva is Agnes Szavay who is also coming off a three set marathon against Ai Sugiyama. Szavay advanced into the second round, beating the Japanese veteran 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(4).

Neither Dementieva nor Szavay looked particularly solid in their opening rounds. They both need to tidy up their games. So a bit of a dilemma: who to back in this matchup. Only one can advance and I expect the Russian will do so. She has more experience in clutch matches and she is in fine form overall this season.

Tennis Betting Picks: Dementieva in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Caroline Wozniacki   -375          Marion Bartoli     +235

Match Time: 07:00 A.M. Eastern Time Thursday April 30 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Dane Caroline Wozniacki is seeded seventh in Stuttgart. She enters the main draw with an enviable 27-8 mark on the season, which includes a title in Ponte Vedra Beach (clay) and runner-up finishes in Memphis (hard) and  Charleston (clay). Prior to winning her first career clay court title in Florida this year, Wozniacki did not consider clay her best surface. In seizing the title and finishing runner-up in Charleston a week later, she proved to herself and tennis bettors that she can play on the dirt, and rather well. This will be important for the young Dane not only in this event but also during the run-up to and including the French Open. In terms of this matchup, Wozniacki is the firm favourite at -375. Recommending her further is a 3-0 lifetime edge over the Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli. Bartoli has had a good season to date and she enters the event 21-8 on the season with one title – Monterrey (hard). She was also a runner-up in Brisbane. Bartoli is a tough competitor and on any other surface she would be a threat. However, clay is perhaps her weakest surface, because movement is not her strong suit.  That said, she did have a good run in Charleston, reaching the semis. Might she surprise everyone and orchestrate the upset tomorrow?

Tennis Betting Picks: Wozniacki in straight sets