Stepanek avoids upset; moves into second round in San Jose

Tennis Betting Lines

02/10/2009 - San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fourth-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek avoided a huge upset Monday, but rallied to beat German qualifier Dominik Meffert, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in the first round at the $600,000 SAP Open, the first American stop on the 2009 ATP World Tour.

Stepanek, ranked 21st in the world and a finalist here last year, was in danger of going down to the 17-year-old Meffert, who is ranked 226th. But Stepanek came through when it counted by converting 8-of-10 break point chances.

Diminutive Belgian Christophe Rochus posted an upset by ousting seventh-seeded Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) on the indoor hardcourt at HP Pavilion.

In other opening-round play, France's Florent Serra squeezed past Finn Jarkko Nieminen 7-5, 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, Tommy Haas downed fellow German Lars Poerschke, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8), Taylor Dent got by Bobby Reynolds, 6-3, 6-4 in a battle of Americans, and Japan's Kei Nishikori breezed by Luxembourg's Gilles Muller, 7-5, 6-2.

This week's top seeds are defending champion Andy Roddick, Argentine star Juan Martin del Potro and American James Blake. The American Roddick, who also titled here, back-to-back, in 2004 and 2005, will play Swede Michael Ryderstedt Tuesday night.

The final singles match Tuesday night will be an intriguing one with fifth- seeded American Mardy Fish tangling with Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

The 2009 San Jose titlist will pocket $93,900.

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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup

September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com.  The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans. 

Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to  name a  few.  Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR.  They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.

The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer.  Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.

Ryder Cup Odds

Europe
Tie
USA		 4-5
10-1
6-5


Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
Tiger Woods
Jim Furyk
Phil Mickelson
Chris DiMarco
David Toms
Stewart Cink
Chad Campbell
Scott Verplank
Zach Johnson
Vaughan Taylor
JJ Henry
Brett Wetterich		 9-4
4-1
5-1
7-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
25-1
30-1
30-1
50-1


Ryder Cup Top European scorer
Sergio Garcia
Luke Donald
Padraig Harrington
Colin Montgomerie
Darren Clarke
David Howell
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Henrik Stenson
Jose Maria Olazabal
Paul McGinley
Robert Karlsson		 5-1
5-1
6-1
13-2
8-1
9-1
9-1
11-1
12-1
12-1
20-1
25-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com