Stosur, Sharapova reach semis in Stanford

Tennis Betting Lines

07/31/2010 - Stanford, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur and fifth-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova won their respective quarterfinal matches Friday at the $700,000 Bank of the West Classic tennis event.

Stosur outlasted seventh-seeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Stosur, who lost to Francesca Schiavone in the finale at Roland Garros, is playing her first tournament since breaking into the top five.

Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the eighth seed, took down defending champion and fourth-seeded Marion Bartoli 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Bartoli of France surprised American star Venus Williams in last year's finale here. Azarenka will battle Stosur in Saturday's semifinals.

Sharapova defeated fellow countrywoman Elena Dementieva, the second seed, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 on the hardcourts at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.

In other quarterfinal action, third-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska leveled Russian glamour girl Maria Kirilenko 7-5, 6-0. Radwanska will next face Sharapova.

The big winner this week will receive $107,000.

Gmable Tennis Betting News

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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.

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"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.