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08/01/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Believe it or not, Russian Anna Chakvetadze is all the way up to a career-high No. 6 in the women's tennis rankings, currently ahead of the likes of former world No. 1 stars Amelie Mauresmo and Serena Williams.
The 20-year-old Chakvetadze (pronounced chuk-veh-TAHD-zeh) is perhaps the quietest Top-10 performer of any sport in the world. She opened the year ranked 13th on the planet and has steadily been climbing the tennis ladder over the past few campaigns.
The solid all-around star has her career WTA titles up to six, including an eye-catching four already this season. Her first two titles came last year, back-to-back, including a special one at the Tier I Kremlin Cup in her native Moscow. Only world No. 1 Justine Henin (5) has won more titles than Chakvetadze in 2007. The Russian also currently leads the US Open Series standings, thanks to her hardcourt title in Stanford last week. The championship at the Bank of the West Classic marked her second title in eight days, as she also ran the table at a hardcourt event in Cincinnati a week earlier.
FYI, the US Open Series links 10 summer events to the US Open, creating a cohesive, six-week summer tennis season for the WTA and ATP professional tournaments in North America. It runs for six weeks and culminates with the US Open.
Interesting?
Probably not.
So let's get back to Chakvetadze.
Granted, she didn't exactly beat any juggernauts en route to her titles in Cincy or Stanford, but she certainly seems to win the matches that she's supposed to win.
The 5-foot-7 star is a solid 46-11 this season, including trips to the quarterfinals at both the Aussie and French Opens. Unfortunately, she came up a third-round loser at Wimbledon.
The rising Russian started to make her Grand Slam mark by reaching the fourth round at last year's US Open, and she's never lost before the third round in her three trips to New York City.
Chakvetadze is a career combined 24-12 at the four majors, starting with her first US Open appearance as a 17-year-old qualifier in 2004. She stunned her at-the-time world No. 3 fellow Russian Anastasia Myskina in the second round at that particular major fortnight.
The 128-pound Chakvetadze joined the professional ranks in 2003, a year in which she finished at No. 373 in the world. She shot up to No. 84 by the end of 2004, and was well on her way with a No. 33 finish in '05.
FYI, Chakvetadze reached the Wimbledon junior finale in '03.
Chakvetadze also helped Russia beat the host United States 3-2 in a Fed Cup semifinal in Stowe, Vermont last month and her Russian squad will now meet reigning champion Italy in the 2007 Fed Cup World Group final in mid- September.
The Muscovite took her career prize money over the $1 million mark back in January, and she's already earned more than $728,000 this season. She opened her '07 campaign by titling in Hobart and has basically been winning matches ever since, as evidenced by the aforementioned record.
She's reached at least the quarterfinals in 10 of her 14 events so far this season; has advanced to six semifinals; and is an impressive 4-0 in four finals for the year. As a matter of fact, Chakvetadze has yet to lose in six career title bouts.
Impressive.
Chakvetadze is currently the third-best Russian on the tour, behind reigning US Open champion Maria Sharapova and 2004 US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, but with the continued progress, she may be heading even higher. She succumbed to the two-time major titlist Sharapova in this year's Aussie and French Open quarters.
The determined Chakvetadze has yet to beat her fellow 20-year-old Sharapova in four career matchups, and she's 0-2 lifetime versus Kuznetsova. That's a combined 0-6 against the cream of the Russian crop.
But, if Chakvetadze's self-proclaimed goal is "to be Top 5," then I'd say she's in pretty good shape to accomplish that. Her biggest obstacle could be herself, however, as the often emotional star is prone to lapses of concentration during the biggest points.
The talented Russian is seeded third at this week's Tier I Acura Classic in San Diego. The top seeds there are Sharapova and Serbian star Jelena Jankovic.
<< Battered Phils resume set with Cubs at Wrigley
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Injuries are forcing Philadelphia to alter things a bit in
their lineup. It didn't produce a win on Tuesday, so the Phillies will try to
get back on track tonight against the Chicago Cubs in the third contest of a
four-ga
<< Teixeira to make Braves debut as Atlanta hosts Houston
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves were winners at the trade deadline
yesterday and then went on to defeat the Houston Astros in the opener of a
three-game series. The two clubs will continue the set this evening at Turner
Fiel
<< Resurgent Cards go for another win over hapless Pirates
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals shoot for season-best five straight
wins when they continue a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates
tonight at PNC Park.
St. Louis posted its fourth consecutive victory with Tuesday
<< O's, Red Sox resume set at Fenway
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aging right-hander Steve Trachsel looks for his first win
since June 8 tonight when the Baltimore Orioles visit Fenway Park for the
second of three games with their American League East Division rivals, the
Boston Red Sox.
Blue Jays, Devil Rays set for rubber match in Florida >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Towers takes the hill for the first time since
ripping his team and coaching staff when the Toronto Blue Jays play the rubber
match of their three-game series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana
Field.
Towers
Rangers have new look as they continue series with Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The new-look Texas Rangers aim for a second straight
victory over the playoff-hopeful Cleveland Indians when the two teams resume a
three-game set this evening at Jacobs Field.
Despite trading away two of their best player
Detroit concludes road trip, series in Oakland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers wrap up what has been a long and
challenging road trip when the current American League Central leaders finish
off a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics this afternoon at McAfee
Coliseum.
Afte
Mariners get one last chance to close gap with Angels >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The two best clubs in the American League West close out a
three-game series tonight at Safeco Field, as the Seattle Mariners play the
rubber match with the division-leading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Angels enter
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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It’s time to see how the biggest NFL free agent signings will perform for their news teams. Some will work out and could be the difference that makes a difference in the win column.
We look at the best off-season signings and if they should influence your NFL betting this season. Julius Peppers – Peppers was the biggest prize available on the 2010 NFL free agent market and the Chicago Bears opened the bank to bring his talents to the south side.
Peppers is explosive, he can get around blockers and cause quarterbacks to lose their minds. We all remember the classic Peppers game last year against the Vikings where he hounded Brett Favre into his worst game of the season. Peppers joining the Bears could be the reason Favre retired for good Tuesday morning. In addition to Peppers, the Bears added Chester Taylor to back up Matt Forte, Forte didn’t have the same intensity in 2009 compared to 2008 and bringing in Taylor will challenge Forte to bring it every game or he’ll risk losing carries to Taylor.
Betting on the Bears is a good option this season because of Julius Peppers and to a lesser extent Taylor. Antonio Bryant and Terrell Owens – The Cincinnati Bengals signed two former number one wide receivers to line up with Chad Ocho Cinco. Antonio Bryant had a huge season in 2008 catching 83 passes for over 1200 yards but regressed last season. Playing for the Tampa Bay Bucs last season was a large part of the regression, everyone was bad in TB last season.
Bryant should have a bounce back season if he can win the number two spot from Terrell Owens. If Bryant wins the number 2 WR spot, it will open up a completely new set of problems for the Bengals. If Owens is forced to the bench in favor of Bryant, his attitude will create trouble for Carson Palmer and head coach Marv Lewis. If Owens is the number two receiver, it means Bryant can’t live up to his past numbers and the Bengals are still limited in the passing game. NFL bettors should be wary of laying their money down on what could potentially be the biggest gong show in the league in 2010. 2010 football betting lines for this can be found at this top online sportsbook. Karlos Danby – The Miami Dolphins have a great running back tandem in Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown, a good young QB in Chad Henne and now the Bill Parcells regime is building a solid defense.
NFL bettors should be wary of laying their money down on what could potentially be the biggest gong show in the league in 2010. Karlos Danby – The Miami Dolphins have a great running back tandem in Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown, a good young QB in Chad Henne and now the Bill Parcells regime is building a solid defense. They signed away the Arizona Cardinals top linebacker Karlos Danby. In the past two seasons, Danby has totaled 228 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles. The Dolphins are the forgotten team of the AFC East with the second longest odds to win the division but with the addition of Karlos Danby and a trade for WR Brandon Marshall makes the Miami Dolphins legitimate contenders in the AFC East and in the NFL’s Eastern Conference.
The Dolphins will make NFL wagering fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
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