WTA Cincinnati Quarters – Jankovic and Dementieva on collision course

Cincinnati, USA – It was a bizarre day at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open as both Serena Williams and Venus Williams (the No.2 and 3 seeds respectively) were sent packing in the last 16 by relatively non-threatening players Sybille Bammer and Flavia Pennetta. The latter was coming off her biggest title victory at Stanford so perhaps her 7-6(2), 6-4 win over Venus Williams was not so shocking – if it was still an upset where the tennis betting market is concerned. But Sybille Bammer beating Serena Williams was both a surprise and a shock, in straight sets mind 7-5, 6-4.

Few believed the tournament would move without the Williamses so soon but as that is exactly the case we must turn our attention to our day’s victors.

Fourth seed Jelena Jankovic and fifth seed Elena Dementieva enjoyed better fortunes today as they won their last 16 encounters. Jankovic topped Viktoria Azarenka in straight sets. Meanwhile, Elena Dementieva beat Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-4. Elsewhere, eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki joined the winner’s circle when she got a free pass into the quarters after Melinda Czink retired with a back injury, down 3-0 in the first set.

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So with the quarterfinal matchups in the bottom half of the draw set, here is a look at Jelena Jankovic and Elena Dementieva in their upcoming encounters.

Tennis Betting Line: Caroline Wozniacki vs. Elena Dementieva

Match Time 12:00 PM Eastern Time Friday August 14 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Elena Dementieva and Caroline Wozniacki set up an interesting clash in the quarters. As seeds in the tournament, they have upheld their weight to reach this far. It also suggests, their match – on paper, at least – will be a closer affair. If their head-to-head record, split at two each, were an indication, then definitely it should be so. However, Wozniacki owns the 2-0 edge in 2009 having won both their encounters this season. The last time Dementieva beat Wozniacki was in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, en route to winning the gold medal.

Seeing that Dementieva lost the last two encounters, a school of thought suggests she has more motivation and incentive to win this time. Not that I subscribe to theories that suggest a player is due to win or is going to win because somehow he/she is more motivated after several losses (just look at Roddick’s head-to-head with Federer, the story is there in plain sight), but I do believe Dementieva will win. Why? Because she is in better form coming into this event. Encouraging, is that both prior losses were really close.

Tennis Free Picks: Dementieva is the better play. Dementieva in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Jelena Jankovic vs. Sybille Bammer

Match Time 12:00 AM Eastern Time Friday August 14 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Jankovic takes a whopping 7-1 mark against Bammer into this match and that should be a great source of confidence for the Serbian starlet seeing that she is probably aware of the fact that Bammer just took out short-odds-on favourite for the title Serena Williams in the last 16. She might even be thankful for that feat, later that is, if she secures her allotted spot in the semis. Which player do you think she might prefer to play, Williams or Bammer? Against whom does she have the better chance? Obvious isn’t it.

However, while, Jankovic’s path has certainly been made easier let us not underestimate Bammer. She earned the win over Serena convincingly. After beating Serena, what is taking out Jankovic by comparison? Obvious isn’t it.

Tennis Free Picks: Jankovic might be the better play – on paper that is – but Bammer is on a bit of a giant-killing spree in Cincinnati and I like her to go one better. Bammer in straight sets