Federer and Roddick roll at U.S. Open

Tennis Betting Lines

08/30/2010 - Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second seeded and five-time champion Roger Federer along with birthday boy and former champion Andy Roddick were easy opening-round winners Monday at the U.S. Open.

The reigning Australian Open titlist Federer was stunned by Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in last year's final here, which prevented the 16-time Grand Slam champion from Switzerland from capturing a sixth straight title in Flushing. Federer was the U.S. Open champ from 2004-08.

Federer opened his quest for a title with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Argentinian Brian Dabul in the featured match of the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Swiss shotmaker fired 18 aces and 46 winners in comparison to his overmatched opponent's four winners.

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 was asked about turning 28 years old.

"I don't really think about it, because it makes no difference what I think about it," Roddick said. "It's like you go out there and give the best of what you got on that day."

Roddick, who exited the draw in the third round here a year ago, is now 36-9 lifetime at the U.S. Open.

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

Roddick's second-round opponent will be tough Serb Janko Tipsarevic, who overcame diminutive Belgian Olivier Rochus 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2.

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 in the Big Apple.

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.

Austrian Jurgen Melzer, seeded 13th, outlasted Russian Dmitry Tursunov, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 while 21st-seeded Albert Montanes of Spain rebounded from a two-set deficit to knock off Poland's Michal Przysiezny, 5-7, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0 to move into round two.

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.

Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil, the 26th seed, advanced into the next round with a 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (6) victory over American Tim Smyczek.

Australian Lleyton Hewitt, seeded 32nd, who titled here in 2001 and was the runner-up in 2004, fought back from a two-set hole to force a fifth and deciding set only to fall to Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1.

Additional opening-round wins came for Frenchmen Richard Gasquet and Guillaume Rufin, Russian Igor Andreev, Brazil's Ricardo Mello, Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis, Aussie Carsten Ball, Japan's Kei Nishikori, Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker, American Taylor Dent, Andreas Beck of Germany and Kevin Anderson of South Africa.

The champion will collect at least $1.7 million.

Jinfeist Tennis Betting News

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

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NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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