Nadal eases into Barcelona quarters, semis

Tennis Betting Lines

04/23/2009 - Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Four-time reigning champion Rafael Nadal was an easy third-round winner Thursday at the $2.6 million Barcelona Open.

The high-flying world No. 1 Nadal spanked helpless Belgian Christophe Rochus 6-2, 6-0 in 56 minutes on the red clay at Real Club de Tenis Barcelona. Nadal has now won his last 23 matches on clay, a surface he is 140-4 on since 2005.

Nadal defeated David Ferrer in last year's popular all-Spanish finale here to secure a fourth straight title at the event. He's 23-1 lifetime at this tournament.

The reigning Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic titlist Nadal is fresh off his fifth straight Monte-Carlo championship, having beaten Serbian star Novak Djokovic in last week's title tilt in Monaco.

Nadal's quarterfinal opponent on Friday was supposed to be seventh-seeded Argentine star David Nalbandian, but Nalbandian pulled out of the tournament with a hip injury after beating 10th-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday, thus giving Nadal safe passage into the semifinals.

Meanwhile, second-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco outslugged 15th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 7-5, 5-7, 6-4, while third-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko snuck into the quarters by outlasting 16th-seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (10-8), 3-6, 6-4. Verdasco's quarterfinal opponent will be fifth- seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, while Davydenko will meet ninth-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek on Friday.

In addition to Nadal and Verdasco, two other Spaniards landed in the round of eight, as a fourth-seeded Ferrer overcame Italian Potito Starace 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 and sixth-seeded Tommy Robredo fought back to best 12th-seeded Russian Igor Andreev 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Robredo captured this Barcelona event in 2004 and was the 2006 runner-up to Nadal.

Ferrer and Robredo will face-off in an all-Spanish affair on Friday, as half of the quarterfinalists here hail from the host nation.

In some other third-round play, Gonzalez grounded gritty Argentine Juan Monaco 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, while Stepanek moved on by upending eighth-seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.

This week's champion will pocket $370,000.

Wwwbetus Tennis Betting News

<< Delhomme signs contract extension
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme signed a five-year contract extension on Thursday. More to follow.

<< Bush loses no-hit bid in eighth as Brewers bash Phillies
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Braun and Bill Hall belted homers, while Dave Bush took a no-hitter into the eighth and pitched a solid 7 2/3 innings to lead the Milwaukee Brewers past the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-1, in the rub

<< Satisfaction kills in the NBA
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Author Louis L'Amour once said, "Nobody got anywhere in the world by simply being content." Years earlier Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know." Fair enough Ralph -- here's what I know...

<< NHL suspends Flames F Roy
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National Hockey League on Thursday suspended Calgary Flames forward Andre Roy one game and fined him $2,500 for an incident prior to Wednesday's contest. In the pre-game warmups before Calgary

<< Maryland's Vasquez declares for NBA Draft
College Park, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Maryland junior guard Greivis Vasquez has decided to submit his name for the NBA Draft, but won't hire an agent to give himself the option of returning to school. The 6-foot-6 Vasquez averaged 17.5 poi

Slump frustrates Juve's Del Piero >>
Turin, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Frustrated Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero is disappointed with the way his side's title challenge has petered out. It had been thought that Juve would push Inter Milan all the way after it was kn

Bramble hopes to sign new deal with Wigan >>
Wigan, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wigan Athletic defender Titus Bramble is keen to sign a new contract with the Latics. The 27-year-old former Ipswich Town and Newcastle United star has enjoyed a solid campaign with Steve Bruce's side

Genoa's Thiago waits on summer bids >>
Genoa, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In-demand Genoa midfielder Thiago Motta is waiting to see what offers come in for his services next summer. The 26-year-old Brazil international has rebuilt his career in Italy following an injury-hit ti

United acquires defender Avery from New England for draft pick >>
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - D.C. United signed veteran defender Avery John after acquiring his rights from the New England Revolution, the Major League Soccer clubs announced on Thursday. United gave the Revs a conditional draft

Golf Tidbits: Trouble brewing in Tiger's Camp? >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Early in his career, Tiger Woods employed Butch Harmon and Mike "Fluff" Cowan as his swing coach and caddie, respectively. Harmon first started working with Woods when Tiger was romping through the amateu

Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

Bet on NFL Football

Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.