Tennis Betting Tips: Verdasco and Monaco headed for quarterfinal clash

Acapulco, Mexico – Top seed Fernando Verdasco and seventh seed Juan Monaco could set up a scintillating quarterfinal clash today if they survive their second round encounters. Verdasco is set to take on Lukasz Kubot while Monaco will battle Juan Ignacio Chela. Both players are solid favourites to move into the quarters because each has a significant on paper edge over his opposites. Kubot and Chela are not going to be a cakewalk however as they are something of clay aficionados. Verdasco and Monaco; can they punch at their weight class or will the puppy’s rise to the occasion before all is said and done.

Here is a look at these two feature matches at the Abierto Mexicana Telcel Tournament, complete with BetOnline tennis betting odds and lines.

Tennis Betting Line:

Juan Ignacio Chela +4 -135 +190 21½ O -125 U -115
Juan Monaco -4 -105 -275 21½ O -125 U -115

First Set Line: Juan Ignacio Chela +150 Juan Monaco -200

Match Time: 06:00 PM Eastern Time Wednesday February 24, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Juan Monaco enters this all-Argentinean affair as the solid -275 favourite. The price-point is a good vote of confidence and tennis bettors looking to back Monaco can take heart from this vote by the bookies. Further recommending the play on Monaco is a 5-2 lifetime edge over Chela, which includes back-to-back victories as recently as Buenos Aires and Santiago. Monaco is 10-4 on the season, a mark largely made up during the South American clay court swing with a runner-up finish in Santiago and a semi-final finish in Buenos Aires. Monaco also reached the Aussie Open third round, not bad for a player who earns his bread and butter on clay.

Chela has played Monaco twice already and both times he lost, narrowly mind. He could take a page from those losses and learn from his mistakes to avoid striking out. Very possible indeed; therefore, at +190, Chela is a tempting underdog. Still if I were to play with house money, I would bet on Monaco to win. I believe he is a better overall player and the match is on his racquet. I would back Chela on accounting well once again and back him on the handicap at + 4 -135 and on the totals at Over 21 ½ -125.

Tennis Betting Picks: Monaco in three sets

Tennis Betting Line:

Fernando Verdasco -4½ -110 -500 20½ O -135 U -105
Lukasz Kubot +4½ -130 +300 20½ O -135 U -105

First Set Line: Fernando Verdasco -350 Lukasz Kubot +225

Match Time: 06:00 PM Eastern Time Wednesday February 24, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Fernando Verdasco is the top seed in Acapulco and he will be looking to book his spot in the quarters at the expense of a rising Polish star, Lukasz Kubot. Kubot showed his clay court skills when he navigated a course to the Costa do Sauipe final (l. to Ferrero). Kubot is 9-5 on the season and sporting a career-high ranking of No.48. Kubot’s success of late notwithstanding, Kubot is a significant underdog in this match at +300. Arguably, he has a shot but he would have to play lights out tennis against Verdasco if he is to mastermind the upset. I can’t say I see that happening and therefore I believe Verdasco is the better play. The match is on his racquet and he should come through for the betting public. The market favours him at -500 to win outright. That said Kubot could give Verdasco a good run for his money and therefore tennis bettors might like to hedge bets on Kubot to cover the spread at + 4 ½ -130 and on the totals at 20 ½ Over -135.

Tennis Expert Pick: Verdasco in straight sets