SAP Open Roddick and Verdasco begin San Jose bid

San Jose, California – Andy Roddick swaggers into the SAP Open as the top seed and the short-odds-on favourite to clean up in San Jose. Fernando Verdasco, seeded second, comes in with all the swagger and verve beating a retiree (in an exhibition match on Tuesday) can give a player. By the way, the retiree in question was Pete Sampras. You may have heard of him.

Both Roddick and Verdasco are set to kick off their campaign tonight at San Jose, and for all intended purposes, the tournament really begins with them. The markets on their matches are developing nicely and if they are to be believed, both players are poised to thump their hapless opposites, Ryler De Heart and Yen Hsun Lu. In short, they have absolutely no chance.

Tennis Betting Line:

Andy Roddick -6 -110 -6500 18½ O -140 U Ev
Ryler De Heart +6 -130 +1400 18½ O -140 U Ev

Match Time: Not Before 10:00 PM Eastern time Wednesday February 10, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: American Andy Roddick (also known as the other A-Rod) enters his first-ever clash against compatriot Ryler De Heart as the massive favourite at -6500. That is about as untouchable as a player can get these days in the market.

De Heart, who ranks beyond the top 200, entered the San Jose through the qualification rounds. His reward for his efforts is a match against the top American standard in tennis, world No. 7 Roddick. Must seem a bit cruel to have any hope he might have had in the tournament so crushed, surely. Bookies list him at hallucinatory odds of +1400 to win outright.

Bettors would be well advised to avoid the straight up market in this match. Roddick is not really worth the risk as he promises peanuts in return, although there will be a return because he is a “sure thing.” De Heart’s odds – goes without saying: forget about it.

Leaving us with the handicap and the totals. Roddick to cover the spread at -110 is a good bet but for those who believe the Hawaiian native De Heart will account for himself well might find value in his odds to cover the spread at +6 -130. Interestingly, the latter is the favoured outcome. Moreover, the Over 18 ½ is also the favoured outcome at 18 ½ -140. Seems the bookies don’t believe De Heart will be blown off court completely.

Tennis Betting Line:

Yen Hsun Lu +5½ -110 +800 19 O -130 U -110
Fernando Verdasco -5½ -130 -2000 19 O -130 U -110

Match Time: Not Before 12:00 AM Eastern time Thursday February 10, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: World No. 11 Fernando Verdasco enters his first round encounter against World No. 113 Yen-Hsun Lu as the solid favourite, listed at -2000. It will be the first-ever meeting between Verdasco and Lu. Verdasco comes into the San Jose tournament on good form. He won the Kooyong Classic Exhibition event and immediately afterwards finished in the last 16 in Melbourne.

With a 3-1 mark on the season ahead of the match and an important victory against Pete Sampras on Tuesday, an exhibition match for San Jose tennis fans, Verdasco is the good bet in this match. Lu is listed as the +800 underdog in this match and there is little to contradict his market cast. He is 2-3 on the season and slipping in the rankings.

The value betting in this match is going to be on the performance of each player. Verdasco to cover the spread is the favoured outcome, listed at -5 ½ -130. As is the score, Over 19 -130.

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