Roddick rolls at U.S. Open

Tennis Betting Lines

08/30/2010 - Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Birthday boy and former champion Andy Roddick was an easy opening-round winner Monday at the U.S. Open.

The ninth-seeded former world No. 1 Roddick, celebrating his 28th birthday on Monday, blasted helpless Frenchman Stephane Robert 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in 1 hour, 42 minutes on the grounds at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Roddick popped eight aces and had his serve broken only once in the predictable bout.

Roddick captured his lone Grand Slam title here seven years ago and was the 2006 U.S. Open runner-up to the great Roger Federer, who has beaten the American slugger in four major finales.

Fifth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling went the distance to hold off unheralded Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 5-7, 6-4 in just under four hours. The ever-improving Soderling is the reigning two-time French Open runner-up.

Sixth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko cruised into the second round with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 pasting of American journeyman Michael Russell. The dangerous Davydenko looked strong, fit and fast on Day 1.

Eleventh-seeded Croat Marin Cilic handled Ukrainian Illya Marchenko 7-5, 6-3, 6-1, while 17th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils needed more than three hours to outlast American Robert Kendrick 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4. Cilic was an Aussie Open semifinalist back in January.

Former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero dismantled Slovakian Martin Klizan 6-1, 6-3, 6-0, while Croat Ivan Dodig upset 27th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez 6-7 (2-7), 6-1, 1-0. The former Aussie Open runner-up "Gonzo" retired in the third set against Dodig due to a knee injury. The 22nd-seeded former French Open champion Ferrero was the U.S. Open runner-up in 2003.

Additional opening-round wins came for Frenchman Richard Gasquet, Russian Igor Andreev, Brazil's Ricardo Mello, Japan's Kei Nishikori and Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker.

The champion here will collect at last $1.7 million.

Wwwequibase Tennis Betting News

<< Shunted aside by Sabres, Kennedy signs with Rangers
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Rangers agreed to terms with free-agent forward Tim Kennedy on Monday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but multiple outlets revealed it is for one year. The Buffalo Sabres waived

<< Mascherano completes Barca switch
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona announced on Monday that the club has completed the signing of Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano. Mascherano, 26, signed a four-year deal with the Catalan side on Monday after completin

<< McMurray feeling little pressure on making the Chase
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With two races to go before the "Chase for the Sprint Cup" begins at New Hampshire, Daytona 500 champion and Brickyard 400 winner Jamie McMurray says he won't be disappointed if he doesn't qualify for the playof

<< Rockies' Gonzalez takes home NL weekly award
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending August 29. In six games last week, Gonzalez hit 12-of-22 (.545) with four home runs and

<< This Week in Golf - September 2nd through September 5th
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP, TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts - Remember everyone, the second leg of the PGA Tour Playoffs starts on Friday to accommodate the American Labor Day holiday. The new FedEx Cup

Rachel Alexandra in good shape after Personal Ensign loss >>
Saratoga Springs, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra came out of Sunday's upset loss in the Personal Ensign Stakes in good condition and will return to training on Wednesday. Trainer Steve Asmussen sa

Rangers activate OF Cruz from DL >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers activated outfielder Nelson Cruz from the 15-day disabled list among several roster moves on Monday. The 30-year-old has landed on the DL three times this season -- all w

USA squeezes by Brazil to stay undefeated at Worlds >>
Istanbul, Turkey (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Durant recorded 27 points and 10 rebounds, as the United States held off Brazil, 70-68, to remain undefeated at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. It was the first test at this tournament f

McGregor's family issues statement >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The family of late Colorado Rockies president Keli McGregor issued a statement Monday, saying he died of a rare virus that infected the heart muscle. McGregor was found dead in a Salt Lake City

Heat agree to terms with second-round pick Butler >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat signed 2010 second-round pick Da'Sean Butler to a contract on Monday. Terms were not announced, per team policy. The 6-foot-7 forward was taken with the 42nd overall selection after playin

Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional sports lines can be found at: www.Sportsbooks.com

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.