Blockbuster Nadal-Federer Aussie semi set for Friday
Tennis Betting Lines
01/24/2012 -
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former world No. 1 greats Rafael
Nadal and Roger Federer will do battle in the semifinals Friday at the 2012
Australian Open.
The second-seeded Nadal snuck past seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych in four
sets, while a third-seeded Federer whipped 11th-seeded Argentine slugger Juan
Martin del Potro in straights in a rematch of the 2009 U.S. Open final, which
was won by the towering del Potro. Nadal beat Berdych in the 2010 Wimbledon
championship match.
The 30-year-old Federer played in his 1,000th ATP-pevel match on Tuesday and
secured a berth in his 30th Grand Slam semifinal.
"It's a lot of matches and a lot tennis," Federer said. "Either I have been
around for a long time or I'm extremely fit. You decide which way you want to
describe it. But I'm happy."
The 10-time major champion and reigning French Open titlist Nadal was tested
mightily in a 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-3 victory over Berdych at Rod Laver
Arena, where the legendary Aussie Laver was on hand to watch on Day 9. The 16-
time Grand Slam titlist Federer dismantled del Potro 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 earlier
Tuesday in quarterfinal action at Laver.
Nadal needed a whopping 4 hours, 16 minutes to stave off a game Berdych, who
finally succumbed on Nadal's first match point by framing one final forehand
into the court, as the mighty Spaniard broke to close out the quality bout.
Berdych fired 17 aces, but also piled up 56 unforced errors and had his serve
broken five times, compared to only two breaks he tallied against the
Spanish strongman.
"Happy with how I finished match physically, I was able to keep running with
high intensity," Nadal said.
The four-time Aussie Open champion Federer, meanwhile, handled del Potro in
just 1 hour, 59 minutes, as the super Swiss recorded 38 winners to send the
Argentine home after he reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the
'09 U.S. Open.
"We have played some big matches against each other, so just knowing how well
he's been playing as of late, I was just hoping that I would get off a good
start," Federer said. "I was able to mix it up well and control the ball, and
right away sort of felt confident."
Federer, who hasn't won a Grand Slam event since titling here in Melbourne two
years ago, has yet to drop a set at this latest Aussie fortnight.
The 25-year-old Nadal and Federer will meet for a 27th time, with the Spaniard
leading the all-time series 17-9. Nadal is 7-2 in their Grand Slam meetings,
including wins in their last four matchups. The two stalwarts have met in a
record eight major finals, with Nadal winning six of them.
Nadal topped Federer in a compelling 2009 Aussie Open finale.
The other quarterfinals will be staged on Wednesday, as current world No. 1
Novak Djokovic will face fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer and fourth-seeded
Andy Murray will take on 24th-seeded Japanese Kei Nishikori.
Djokovic is 6-5 lifetime against Ferrer, who titled in Auckland two weeks ago
and is a perfect 8-0 this season.
The high-flying Djokovic beat Murray in last year's Aussie final to capture
his second title here in four years. The four-time major champion is also the
reigning Wimbledon and U.S. Open titlist.
Murray, who titled in Brisbane three weeks ago, is a three-time major runner-
up, including a loss to Federer in the 2010 Aussie Open finale.
Djokovic has won 36 of his last 38 Grand Slam matches and is seeking a third
straight major title. A title this week would put him in select company, as
only four players -- Laver, Pete Sampras, Federer and Nadal -- have captured
three straight Grand Slam championships in the Open Era (since 1968).
Nishikori is the first Japanese man to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam
event since Shuzo Matsuoka in 1995 (Wimbledon) and he's also the first
Japanese man in 80 years to advance to the Aussie Open quarters, since Ryosuki
Nunoi and Jiro Satoh turned the trick way back in 1932.
Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have combined to win seven of the last eight
Aussie Open titles.
<< Federer disposes of del Potro, reaches Aussie semis
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Roger Federer cruised
past 11th-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro in straight sets Tuesday to reach the
semifinals of the Australian Open.
Federer handled the Argentine 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in a mere
<< Gay, Grizzlies rally to beat Warriors
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rudy Gay scored 23 points and the Memphis
Grizzlies erased an 18-point point deficit in the fourth quarter to extend
their winning streak to seven with a 91-90 comeback victory over the Warriors.
Memp
<< Oilers top Sharks in shootout
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Taylor Hall scored in the fourth round of the
shootout to lift the Edmonton Oilers to a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks.
In the fourth round, Hall faked to the backhand and was able to lift the puck
past Th
<< Kings chase Anderson, beat Senators
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Clifford had a goal and an assist
while Jonathan Quick turned aside 27 shots to lift the Los Angeles Kings to a
4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators.
Jack Johnson, Trevor Lewis and Willie Mitchell
<< Crawford helps Portland get past Sacramento
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamal Crawford had 26 points off the bench,
Gerald Wallace scored 20 and the Portland Trail Blazers continued to win
against the Sacramento Kings, beating them 101-89 on Monday night.
The Trail Blaze
Blue Jays ink Morrow to three-year deal >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays have signed pitcher
Brandon Morrow to a three-year contract worth $20 million with a club option
for 2015.
Morrow was 11-11 with a 4.27 earned run average and 203 strikeouts
Murray State's moment in the spotlight >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kentucky has always been a state shaped by
its basketball. The wide fields serving as the outer boundaries to hardwood
sandlots carved on God's ground, where games have been played dawn to dusk.
It's n
Bryans reach Aussie semis >>
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The world No. 1 twin Bryan brothers,
Bob and Mike, were hard-fought doubles quarterfinal winners Tuesday at the
Australian Open.
The Bryans snuck past a sixth-seeded Polish team of Mariusz Fyr
Aztecs collide with Cowboys in MWC affair >>
Laramie, WY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the top teams in the Mountain West
Conference collide in Laramie this evening, as the 13th-ranked San Diego State
Aztecs take on the Wyoming Cowboys at Arena-Auditorium.
Steve Fisher's Aztecs are sitting
Top-ranked Kentucky takes act on the road against Georgia >>
Athens, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Back at the top of the national polls, the
Kentucky Wildcats put an 11-game win streak on the line this evening, as they
take on the Georgia Bulldogs in SEC action at Stegeman Coliseum.
The Wildcats moved to 5-0
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
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