Serena Williams Versus Maria Sharapova - 9:30 P.M. EST ESPN2 - Opinions?

[oldmanTED]

Serena Williams squares off tonight against Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals of the Austrialian Open. The match will be carried live at 9:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2. These two have met 3 times with Sharapova winning the last 2 matches and most notably beating Williams last year at Wimbledon. Current line at Pinnacle is as follows:

Sharapova +181
Williams -203

Anyone have an opinion on this match?

 

[jjgold]

Maria Sharapova is the more stable player and has better endurance

Williams will be too tight

 

[aceduecetrey]

Sharapova is beautiful! Thats my opinion!

I also like he some tonight in the match.

 

[Avalanche88]

Williams has much better value in this spot. I think she's ready to claim her first major since the lay off. She looks relaxed. JMHO

 

[assassin]

I took +185



too bad skybook doesnt have tennis lines :sad3:

 

[TheGeneral+]

Let's get a solid opinion and nail this.

 

[Glaken]

Check out the Global & International forum...some idiot has already started a thread on this match...but for you OS locked in guys its Williams.

 

[TheGeneral+]

Ted, I made it a poll. I hope you don't get mad at me. I will wager the consensus here and sleep well.

 

[Glaken]

BTW Old Man Ted...hope your feeling better...this place wouldn't be the same without you. G

 

[assassin]

apologies to skybook

they have lines up now on all 4 matches

<TABLE><TBODY><TR class=Table2inside><TD noWrap>Wed 1/26</TD><TD noWrap>267</TD><TD noWrap>S Williams</TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap><INPUT id=editx maxLength=5 size=4 name=M1_100> -200 </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD></TR><TR class=Table2inside><TD noWrap>06:30PM</TD><TD noWrap>268</TD><TD noWrap>M Sharapova</TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap><INPUT id=editx maxLength=5 size=4 name=M2_100> +160 </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD></TR><TR class=Table1inside><TD noWrap>Wed 1/26</TD><TD noWrap>269</TD><TD noWrap>N Dechy</TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap><INPUT id=editx maxLength=5 size=4 name=M1_101> +675 </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD></TR><TR class=Table1inside><TD noWrap>08:00PM</TD><TD noWrap>270</TD><TD noWrap>L Davenport</TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap><INPUT id=editx maxLength=5 size=4 name=M2_101> -975 </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD></TR><TR class=Table2inside><TD noWrap>Thu 1/27</TD><TD noWrap>271</TD><TD noWrap>M Safin</TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap><INPUT id=editx maxLength=5 size=4 name=M1_102> +450 </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD></TR><TR class=Table2inside><TD noWrap>00:30AM</TD><TD noWrap>272</TD><TD noWrap>R Federer</TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap><INPUT id=editx maxLength=5 size=4 name=M2_102> -650 </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD></TR><TR class=Table1inside><TD noWrap>Thu 1/27</TD><TD noWrap>273</TD><TD noWrap>L Hewitt</TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap><INPUT id=editx maxLength=5 size=4 name=M1_103> +160 </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap> </TD></TR><TR class=Table1inside><TD noWrap>04:00PM</TD><TD noWrap>274</TD><TD noWrap>A Roddick</TD><TD noWrap> </TD><TD noWrap><INPUT id=editx maxLength=5 size=4 name=M2_103> -200 </TD><TD noWrap> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[BoZZi]

Sharapova is a major hottie....i'll watch that match just because of her

 

[oldmanTED]

Sharapova was exhausted after defeating U.S. Open Champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 as both players struggled with the heat. Checked out the weather forecast and it appears some light thundershowers expected during the day with temperatures a bit cooler. Both players rested yesterday.

As I recall, Sharapova had very strong ground strokes at Wimbledon and had Williams running all over the court as she beat her in straight sets 6-1, 6-4. Williams comes into the Austrialian Open ranked #7 in the world, while Sharapova comes in ranked #4.

 

[Glaken]

Going out on a limb here but I see Federer and Williams winning the tourny. A small cavaet to new tennis bettors...there is no push..once you make the wager you are all in so to speak; if a player twist an ankle in the first game and your money is on him you lose. Once the match starts your in, if a player quits because of an injury its not a push. Good Luck, G

 

[wilheim]

I look at it this way: Whoever wins this match tonight wins the tournament. If you like Maria take plus 364 if you like like Serena take plus 128. (Pinnacle). (There may be some way to bet an open parlay and get better odds not sure). Personally I am going to take the dog Maria Sharapova plus 364 to win the torunament. Dechy has very little shot and Davenport is lucky to still be playing and can't beat either Serena or maria in the final. If you like Serena the plus 128 is gold compared to minus 205.


Best of luck, wil.

 

[Glaken]

OMT whats your play? I see Williams straight sets.

 

[HacheMan]

Here's my opinion, and not necessarily on this specific matchup.....

The truth about the Williams sisters is now coming out. They dominated what was once a weak crop of women players and now are seeing some decent competition in which they can't run over anymore. If they would of made their appearance on the women's game a few years before they actually did, they wouldn't of been nearly close to as dominant as they were facing the likes of Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Steffi Graf etc.........

 

[GreenDoberman]

glaken,
many of the books changes their rules from first ball served to complete matches.

This does not apply to future wagers obviously.

I have a future wager alive on Dechy at +7000 and +9000. It is mathematically impossible to lose at this point, unless it is -4500 or greater if she makes the finals.
If not for the bad call in the Davenport-Molik match last night, the return would have been much greater with her versus Alicia instead of Lindsay.

 

[oldmanTED]

General:

Thanks. Appreciate the poll. Great idea.

Glaken:

Sorry, I was looking for a thread and didn't see a forum for tennis and didn't stop to think about the International Sports. Didn't mean to steal your thunder. Hopefully, we can get some good opinions and knowledge on this match. I haven't personally seen any of the Open too date but I'm sure others have. I know the game, but just not current visual form. So relying on what I am reading on the web and looking for some thoughts from our members.

 

[Glaken]

Sharapova is a major hottie....i'll watch that match just because of her

You would have to train her if you know what I mean...she's 's 17 and I just might could find the time....she seems to be a bit of a girlie-man too. Just give me Amanda Coetzer and I'll shut up.

 

[oldmanTED]

Glaken:

My current lean would be to Sharapova but like Wil pointed out, most likely, the winner of this match wins the tournament at much better odds and have to agree with him that if you think Williams wins tonight, a better play is to take her to win the tournament rather then lay -203 tonight.