Federer avoids first-round shocker at Wimbledon
Tennis Betting Lines
06/21/2010 -
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Six-time champion Roger Federer was on
the ropes Monday but managed to avoid an opening-round shocker against game
Colombian Alejandro Falla at Wimbledon.
The 60th-ranked Falla stunned Federer by winning the first two sets on Day 1
and served for the match in the fourth set, but the super Swiss staved off his
Colombian counterpart to record a gutsy 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1), 6-0 victory
on the famed Centre Court at the storied All England Club.
The reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion Federer found a way to win
on a day where he clearly was not at his best. He avoided losing in the first
round here for the first time in eight years.
Falla played the match of his life on Monday, which included the unlikely two-
sets-to-none lead.
The 26-year-old Colombian played some brilliant baseline tennis for the first
four sets. He broke the mighty Federer with a backhand volley in the first set
to grab a 6-5 lead, and then held serve to capture the opening stanza.
In the second set, the surprising Falla recorded another huge break when the
world No. 2 Federer netted a forehand on his way to a 3-4 deficit. Falla
consolidated the break on his way to a stunning 6-4 set victory. Federer saved
a pair of set points, at 4-5 in the second, but Falla ultimately prevailed on
a fourth set point with a quality forehand volley winner.
After going up by two sets, Falla summoned a trainer to work on his left
leg, which required treatment on a couple of occasions in the opening-day
duel.
In the third set, Falla had chance to break for a 5-4 lead, but the Swiss
great, down love-40 at one point, wound up saving four break points to assume
a 5-4 lead. Federer then broke Falla to win the third set, which he did with a
much-needed forehand winner.
In the fourth set, Falla broke for a 1-0 lead, but Federer held tough and
would get the break back nine games later to pull even at 5-all. Falla was
serving for the match, leading at 5-4.
The 16-time major champion Federer managed to force a fourth-set tiebreak,
which he won easily, and then dominated the fifth set at love to breath a
sigh of relief. The Basel native wound up winning 10 of the last 11 games.
Federer, who tallied seven double faults on Monday, needed 3 hours, 18 minutes
to advance, which he did with the help of 21 aces and five service breaks.
Falla settled for three breaks in the round-of-128 tussle.
The 28-year-old Federer is now 3-0 versus Falla this season, including a
second-round victory at the French Open.
Federer improved to 52-5 lifetime at Wimbledon.
The top-seeded Federer has appeared in the last seven finals here, winning six
of them. He beat Andy Roddick in last year's memorable finale, which featured
a grueling 30-game fifth set. With the win last year, Federer became the men's
all-time leader with a 15th major title.
Federer's second-round opponent on Wednesday will be Serbian Ilia Bozoljac.
In other action involving top-16 seeds, German Florian Mayer toppled No. 11
Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) and No. 16 Austrian Jurgen Melzer topped
Jamaican Dustin Brown 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. The Croatian Cilic was an Aussie
Open semifinalist back in January. Melzer reached the French Open semis
earlier this month.
A mild upset came when Poland's Michal Przysiezny took out 17th-seeded Croat
Ivan Ljubicic 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
Other seeded Day-1 winners were No. 21 Frenchman Gael Monfils, No. 22 Spaniard
Feliciano Lopez and No. 28 Spaniard Albert Montanes. Lopez dismissed American
Jesse Levine in four sets.
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American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout
An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.
Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off. Randy was not impressed though. Paula thought he started off fantastic. "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either.
Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed. Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact. He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition.
Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula. Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.
Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next. Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential. Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell. He sang "Careless Whisper".
22 year old Chris Richardson was up next. He was listed with +1100 odds coming in. He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great.
Nick was boring and pitchy. Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week. Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition.
Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds . These of course were the early odds. He was considered original for picking an "odd song". He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night.
Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good.
Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds. Great voice and a great sense of humor. He's a real standout. Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit. Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig".
Jared Cotter followed. He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition. The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good.
22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next. "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon. Though the judges felt he performed okay. Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.
Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition. He was the last to perform. He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start.
Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys. Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.
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