Maria Sharapova (9/4) – She’s having a pretty sunny year after breaking Justine Henin’s 32 match winning streak and going on to win the Australian Open without dropping a set. She won the Singles title at the Qatar Total Open. Her first loss of the year was to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semifinals of the Pacific Life Open. So it comes as no surprise that she’s favoured by the bookies at 9/4 (general). There are some, however, who inquire after Maria’s shoulder after a spot of bother at the DFS Classic in Birmingham. Also take into consideration the rocky ride she took us on at the French Open.

Serena Williams (5/2) – Knocked out of the Australian Open by Jankovic at the quarter-finals (her fourth consecutive loss in the quarter finals of a Grand slam singles tournament). She and her Sister were then knocked out of the doubles event in the quarter-finals. After the Australian Open she cancelled her next four tournaments. A rocky start to 2008 for Serena, so it comes as a surprise that she is seeded as no.2 to win this tournament. Ladbrokes and Coral have her at 3/1 while Betfair is on 4.3/1. I find it hard to believe that she’s a contender for the final this year.

Ana Ivanovic (5/1) – Ana has shown spectactular performance this year making both grand slam finals and winning the French Open. Now ranked No.1 in the world (partly due to Henin’s retirement) I reckon she’s good value at 5/1 general. Although it would be interesting to see her up against Dementieva (ranked 10th favourite) at Wimbledon as she’s already lost to her twice this year.

Venus Williams (9/2) – 9/2 at Bet365 and BlueSq and 6/1 at Betfair means there’s a lot more contesting between the top few players for the favourite spot than in the men’s event. It would be unwise to disregard anyone in the top four until you’ve really knuckled down to your research. Venus squeezed in a win over Maria Sharapova early on in the year at the Hong Kong Exhibition Tournament but yielded a win to Ivanovic in the Australian Open. It’s a tricky call especially as the bookies rate her 4th favourite.

Jelena Jankovic (14/1) – Its hard to see Jelena come through for Wimbledon especially as she doesn’t have any previous Singles Grand slams under her belt. Her talents lie elsewhere on the clay court or in the doubles event. Betfair rates Jankovic for an unoptimistic 16.5/1 a large margin from the top four seeded. Ladbrokes have her at 14/1.

The quarterfinal tennis odds for the Grand Prix Hassan II are currently available in our Online Tennis Odds. From a strong French contingent competing in Casablanca, Marc Gicquel and Gilles Simon confirmed their berths in the final eight after both won their respective second round encounters. With this last sports betting opportunity to bet on some fine players at BetUS Sportsbook, before the 2008 French Open kicks off next week, here is a look at this all-French affair in the Grand Prix Hassan quarterfinal, complete with tennis odds, online betting lines and free tennis picks.

Grand Prix Hassan II Tennis Betting Line: Marc Gicquel +125 Gilles Simon -165

Match Time: 06:00 AM Eastern Time, Thursday, May 22, 2008

Head-to-head Analysis: Lifetime, Marc Gicquel and Gilles Simon are level 1-1. Gicquel beat Simon way back in 2004 in Metz, France (hard), Meanwhile, Gilles Simon defeated Gicquel last year at the ATP Masters Series in Hamburg.

Marc Gicquel (+125) No. 59 Marc Gicquel has had a quiet season this year, posting a lowly 7-9 mark in tournament play. However, he enjoyed a standout performance in Estoril, where he reached the quarterfinal, losing to Nikolay Davydenko. Moving to the challenger circuit to find his form, he reached the quarterfinal in Bordeaux last week. Gicquel lists hard courts (indoor especially) as his favourite surface.

Gilles Simon (-165) No. 36 Gilles Simon enters with a 15-12 mark for the year. In Hamburg and Rome, Simons reached the second round of both Masters Series events and in Estoril he reached the second round as well. On clay, he owns a 3-3 record. Simon favours hard court surfaces.

Grand Prix Hassan II Tennis Prediction: This matchup is a bit of a derby. Neither player owns a decided surface advantage. Nor has either player enjoyed a particularly exceptional overall season or a clay court swing. However, with this largely considered a warm-up event for the French Open and the playing field significantly weaker compared to last week’s Masters Series in Hamburg, then Simon is the better play. He competed in both events and with more success on the ATP, he should come through as the favourite in this matchup.

Grand Prix Hassan II Tennis Free Picks: Simon in straight sets

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For tennis betting fans, there are a host of matches in the first round with good value as the men’s side kicks-off the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open. So to get you started betting on this premier event – the last of the hard court tournaments before the ATP Tour moves to clay visit BetUS online tennis betting.

In 2007, Serb Novak Djokovic became the youngest champion in the 23-year history of the prestigious Sony Ericsson Open. Djokovic defeated Argentinean Guillermo Canas in three sets 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to win his maiden ATP Masters Series title.

After capturing the year’s first ATP Masters Series title in Indian Wells on Sunday, Djokovic arrives in Miami to defend his title.  BetUS suggests betting on the sizzling Serbian sensation Djokovic as he kicks-off his title defence campaign in Miami; bidding to dethrone the World No.3 Djokovic will be a slew of top players, namely World No.1 Roger Federer and No.2 Rafael Nadal who arrive in Miami in search of a first title this season.  

On the women’s side, Sony Ericsson Open defending champion Serena Williams along with Venus Williams and World No.1 Justine Henin, after skipping last week’s event in Indian Wells, return to tournament action in Miami. In 2007, Serena Williams defeated Justine Henin last year in an epic match, coming from behind to seize the 0-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory. With the women’s playing field deeper than ever in talent, bet on who will lift the title in Miami this year.  

Visit BetUS for Online Tennis betting!!