Clijsters, Venus roll into U.S. Open fourth round
Tennis Betting Lines
09/03/2010 -
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion Kim Clijsters and
Venus Williams took easy third-round wins Friday at the U.S. Open.
The second-seeded Clijsters dropped the first three games of her match
against 27th-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova, but wound up taking the final 12
to complete a 6-3, 6-0 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Belgian, who has won 17 straight matches at Flushing Meadows, will face
Serbian Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round in a battle of former world No. 1s.
Ivanovic beat Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano 7-5, 6-0, to continue her
resurgence. The former French Open champion had not reached the fourth round
at the U.S. Open since 2007, bowing out in the first round last year, and had
not advanced beyond the second round at any of the three prior Grand Slam
events this season.
Clijsters has had more success at the U.S. Open than Ivanovic, winning the
title in 2005 and 2009. She is aiming to become the first woman to
successfully defend her U.S. Open crown since Williams in 2001.
Williams, the No. 3 seed, is looking to win her third Open title and took
another step through the bracket with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Luxembourg's
Mandy Minella.
Williams used powerful groundstrokes to dominate rallies, and though she
committed 30 unforced errors, still took the win in a little more than an
hour.
Williams' fourth-round opponent will be 16th-seeded Israeli Shahar Peer, who
advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 decision over 19th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta.
Sixth-seeded French Open champ Italian Francesca Schiavone moved on with a
6-1, 7-5 victory over the Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko, the 29th seed. Schiavone
will next face 20th-seeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after she handled
Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-1, 6-2.
Earlier winners Friday included Samantha Stosur of Australia and Russia's
Elena Dementieva.
The fifth-seeded Stosur thumped Italy's Sara Errani, 6-2, 6-3, while the 12th-
seeded Dementieva was a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova.
Stosur and Dementieva will meet in the fourth round.
<< Sisk leads delayed Mylan Classic
Canonsburg, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Geoffrey Sisk was atop the leaderboard
Friday when the second round of the inaugural Mylan Classic was suspended due
to darkness.
Sisk, one of two first-round leaders, was minus-four for his round
<< Kentucky gets second Truck Series date in 2011
Sparta, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NASCAR announced on Friday that Kentucky
Speedway will host a second Camping World Truck Series race during the 2011
season.
The Thursday, July 7 event will mark the 10th race on next year's tr
<< Bucks sign Hobson
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Bucks signed second-round draft
choice guard Darington Hobson to an undisclosed contract on Friday.
Hobson, the 37th overall pick in this year's draft, averaged 16.4 points, 8.8
rebounds and 3
<< Dodgers activate Furcal from DL
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have activated
shortstop Rafael Furcal from the 15-day disabled list.
The 32-year-old switch hitter is penciled into the leadoff spot for the
Dodgers Friday night as the
<< Royals activate Bannister, Hochevar; Kendall has surgery
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals activated pitchers
Brian Bannister and Luke Hochevar from the disabled list, and catcher Jason
Kendall underwent successful surgery to repair his right shoulder.
Bannister was o
A's sign Hermida, assign him to Triple-A Sacramento >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics signed outfielder Jeremy
Hermida on Friday after he was recently released by the Boston Red Sox.
He was sent to Triple-A Sacramento.
Hermida, who appeared in 52 games for the Red So
Report: Giants trade for Sage Rosenfels >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Giants have apparently found
a backup quarterback after reportedly acquiring Sage Rosenfels from the
Minnesota Vikings.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune cited sources as confirming the mov
Hamels, Ruiz help Phils nip Brewers >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Ruiz drove in the lone run of the
game and Cole Hamels pitched seven strong innings, as the Philadelphia
Phillies snuck past the Milwaukee Brewers, 1-0, in the opener of a three-game
series
Calcavecchia leads First Tee Open by two >>
Pebble Beach, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Calcavecchia fired an eight-under 64
Friday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the First Tee Open.
Calcavecchia fired his 64 at Del Monte Golf Course, which is one of two
courses used
Morrison, Miller pace Marlins over Braves >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Logan Morrison tripled twice, scored two times
and drove in a run in support of five solid innings from Andrew Miller as
Florida downed Atlanta, 6-1, to being a three-game set.
Chad Tracy had a key two
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. |
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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
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