WTA Stuttgart First Round Betting Action

Stuttgart, Germany—With two WTA events on the books at BetOnline Sportsbook, the online tennis-betting hamlet at BetOnline Sportsbook has more than their fair share of options to choose from in women’s tennis. The WTA tour stops in Stuttgart for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and boasts a deep field as several top ten players are competing –Dinara Safina, Jelena Jankovic and Elena Dementieva to name a few. As day two gets set to kick off on Tuesday, here are some tennis free picks, complete with tennis odds for sports bettors looking to bet on tennis to consider.

Tennis Betting Line: Sabine Lisicki -190 Patty Schnyder +145

Match Time: 05:00 A.M. Eastern Time Wednesday April 29 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: French teenager Sabine Lisicki won her maiden WTA title in Charleston (clay) earlier this month. Her breakthrough comes at a significant time in the run-up to the French Open. While she is a long shot to win the Grand Slam title, in winning Charleston she captures the imagination of French fans, who are hoping for one of their own to seize the Paris crown next month, and sets herself up as a dark horse in the women’s field. A good result in Stuttgart will go a long way to improving her value.

Lisicki is 14-6 on the season. She takes on a tough opponent in No.20 Patty Schnyder in her opening round match. The 30-year-old Swiss is a veteran in the game. She has slipped in the rankings on the heels of a disappointing 2009 term; she is 5-7 on the season. Yet, she beat Lisicki in Fed Cup action last week. This will be a rematch of their thrilling battle and a chance for Lisicki to avenge the loss.

Tennis Betting Picks: Lisicki in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Alize Cornet -130 Daniela Hantuchova -110

Match Time: 05:00 A.M. Eastern Time Wednesday April 29 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Another promising French teenager Alize Cornet hopes to put forward a good run in Stuttgart. Encouraging for her is the fact that she enters as the favourite against an estimable player – albeit mentally suspect at times– in Daniela Hantuchova. The pair is level 3-3 in head-to-heads lifetime. In 2009, they have clashed three times with Cornet holding the slim 2-1 edge. Cornet ousted Hantuchova at the Australian Open and followed up with a victory against the Slovak in Paris. Last week, during Fed Cup action, Hantuchova got into the win column against Cornet for the first time this season. All three matches in 2009 were three-set affairs that could have gone either way. Most interesting, the player that won the first set did not win the match. All three featured one or the other coming back from behind. This should be another thrilling clash. I like Hantuchova to come through.

Tennis Betting Picks: Hantuchova in three sets

Tennis Betting Line: Jelena Jankovic -500 Dominika Cibulkova +300

Match Time: 05:00 A.M. Eastern Time Wednesday April 29 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Jankovic is not enjoying her best season so far. The world No.4 started her season ranked as the world No.1, but she could not hold on to the top ranking when she was unceremoniously dumped from the Aussie Open by Marion Bartoli. She struggled in form afterwards for some time. However, she finally made a breakthrough when she won her first title on 2009 in Marbella earlier this month. Since winning her title, she has not lost a match. Currently, she is on a seven match-winning streak, which includes Fed Cup action. Jankovic is installed as the favourite in this match.

Dominika Cibulkova should not be underestimated. She enters as the +300 underdog and there is value in her odds. She is a top 20 player, ranked No.17. She trails 1-2 against Jankovic—a modest margin. She enters 13-8 on the season.

Granted there is more chance Jankovic will advance into the second round than her being upset in the first round, yet I would not be surprised if it did happen after all. Cibulkova is a feisty competitor. Clay courts are well suited to her game.

Tennis Betting Picks: Cibulkova in three sets