Serena wins U.S. Open

Tennis Betting Lines

09/08/2008 - Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Serena Williams outlasted Jelena Jankovic to capture the U.S. Open title for the first time in six years.

Williams, the fourth seed, easily won the first set, but had to come from behind to down Serbia's Jankovic 6-4, 7-5 to win this event for the first time since 2002 and her third overall title.

Williams will become the new No. 1 player in the world with the win, and she pocketed $1.5 million, while Jankovic took home $750,000 for finishing as the runner-up. It will be the first time she has been ranked No. 1 since August 2003, the longest gap between stints at No. 1 for a woman.

It is the ninth major title for Williams as she improved to 9-3 in Grand Slam finals.

This match was originally supposed to be played on Saturday, but Tropical Storm Hanna postponed the women's final until Sunday.

Williams reached the final for the fourth time in her career by dominating sixth-seeded Russian Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-2 in Friday's second semifinal at Ashe Stadium.

Jankovic handled fifth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-4 to appear in her first-ever major final after going 0-4 in her previous Grand Slam semis, including 0-2 in such encounters this season. She was a semifinalist here two years ago.

Serena and Jankovic had split six career matchups, including two meetings this year. The American prevailed in a final in Miami, while the Serb came out on top in an Aussie Open quarterfinal back in January. Williams topped Jankovic in an Aussie Open encounter last year, as the two players are 1-1 in their Grand Slam matchups.

Idolonfoz Tennis Betting News

<< Mets take second test of twin-bill behind Delgado
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Delgado stroked a pair of solo home runs and finished with four RBI as the New York Mets took a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies to split a doubleheader at Shea Stadium. Ryan Church and

<< Todd claims first Nationwide title in six-shot romp
Sandy, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brendon Todd capped off four sparkling rounds of golf with a four-under 67 on Sunday to claim his first Nationwide Tour win at the Utah Championship. The 23-year-old rookie may have been surprised to see t

<< Coaching legend Don Haskins dies
El Paso, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hall of Fame basketball coach Don Haskins, who helped break racial barriers in the collegiate game, died Sunday at the age of 78. The El Paso Times reports Haskins died of congestive heart failure. In 1966

<< Colts' Clark leaves season-opener with knee injury
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark left Sunday's season-opener against the Chicago Bears after suffering a right knee injury in the first quarter. Clark, who caught 58 passes and found the

<< Edwards wins Nationwide race at Richmond
Richmond, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carl Edwards won Sunday's rescheduled Emerson Radio 250 Nationwide Series race at the Richmond International Raceway. The No.60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford driver grabbed the lead from Clint Bowyer with 28 laps

Addai leaves Colts/Bears game >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai left the club's season-opening 29-13 loss to the Chicago Bears with a head injury. Addai was injured early in the fourth quarter after catching a p

Forte, Bears spoil Indy's stadium-opener >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie Matt Forte rushed for 123 yards on 23 carries and found the end zone, while also catching three balls for 18 yards, as the Chicago Bears christened Indianapolis' brand new Lucas Oil Stadium

Mets closer Wagner suffers setback >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Mets closer Billy Wagner suffered a further setback and could possibly be out for the rest of the season due to his left elbow problems. Wearing a protective sleeve on his left elbow, Wagner t

Schiavone, Peng win Bali openers >>
Bali, Indonesia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone and ninth-seeded Chinese Shuai Peng were among Monday's first-round winners at the $225,000 Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic. Schiavone drilled Indonesian quali

First-place Rays begin key AL East set with Red Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays head to Boston's Fenway Park tonight for the opener of the biggest series in the franchise's history, a three-game set with the defending world champion Red Sox that could go along way in deciding this seas

Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.


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. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.