Spaniards in action in Barcelona on Wednesday

Spaniards Tommy Robredo and Felicano Lopez have high hopes at the Barcelona Open as they vie for a spot in the third round.

Barcelona, Spain – Day 3 at the Open Banco Sabadell in Barcelona, Spain headlines local favourites as they put forward their bid before a partisan crowd. While much of the focus in the tennis betting market will be on the top two seeds, Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco as they open their Barcelona bid respectively, other Spaniards on the menu who will also be enjoying home edge have too a chance to go deep. Here is a look at two such local boys – Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez.

Tennis Betting Line: Tommy Robredo -500 Gaston Gaudio +300

Match Time: 04:30 A.M. Eastern Time Wednesday April 22, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Tommy Robredo was the last champion in Barcelona before Rafael Nadal went on a tear at the event, winning four in a row. The 2004 champion Robredo is seeded sixth in the tournament and opens his bid against 2002 Barcelona champion and Roland Garros champion, Gaston Gaudio.

The battle of former Barcelona champions should be an interesting affair for sports bettors to spot. Gaston Gaudio won his first ATP tour level match since the 2007 French Open today, overcoming compatriot Diego Junquiera in three sets to reach the second round. Hampered by all sorts of injuries, Gaudio all but dropped off the ATP map, playing just two tournaments in 2008. Prior to Barcelona, Gaudio competed in Buenos Aires earlier this year but lost in his opening match. Today’s triumph has to be emotional for Gaudio.

Will his triumph be a launch pad for a great run in Barcelona? For that to happen, Gaudio will simply have to upset the bookies favourite and local favourite Tommy Robredo. Easier said than done. Gaudio was never known for nerves of steel, despite winning the French Open in 2004 over a heavily favoured Guillermo Coria. Against Robredo, Gaudio leads the series 4-3 lifetime, but they last met in 2006 at the ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo. Not to take away from Gaudio’s victory or his slim edge over the Spaniard, but Robredo will be a much tougher opponent for Gaudio. Together with the time spent on court sending Junquiera packing, the emotional effect of winning his first ATP match and the Barcelona crowd that will surely rally behind Robredo, methinks Gaudio will not have much left in the tank.

Tennis Betting Picks: Robredo in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Santiago Ventura +175 Feliciano Lopez -225

Match Time: 04:30 A.M. Eastern Time Wednesday April 22, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Feliciano Lopez is not known for his clay-court skills but he outdid himself in his first round match against Jarkko Nieminen, beating the Finnish player for the first time on his sixth attempt. Next up for Lopez is a qualifier and compatriot, Santiago Ventura, who booked his spot in the second round with a victory over another Spaniard, Marcel Granollers. Home-edge will be cancelled out in this all-Spanish affair and with the crowd somewhat out of it, the winner is a best-guess scenario. No.33 Lopez outranks Ventura but he is in a slump. He has not won back-to-back matches since Marseille (February). He arrived in Barcelona 3-7 on the season. Ventura weighs in at No.117 and brings a 1-3 mark to Barcelona. This is his fourth ATP event of the season. He fell in the opening round of Chennai and Johannesburg, and reached the second round of Casablanca. Ventura is not without a shot but Lopez has more experience at this level and, therefore, he should come through.

Tennis Betting Picks: Lopez in three sets