05/15/2008 - Rome, Italy (Tennis Betting) - Newly-appointed world No. 1 Maria Sharapova and former top-ranked star Serena Williams were a pair of third-round winners Thursday at the $1.34 million Italian Open, a clay-court French Open tuneup.
The second-seeded Australian Open champion Sharapova got past Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), while a fifth-seeded Serena drilled Italian wild card Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3 on Day 4 at Foro Italico.
Sharapova will become No. 1 when the newest rankings are released on Monday, following Justine Henin's stunning retirement announcement on Wednesday. It will mark the fourth time the Russian has ascended to the top of the rankings.
The 25-year-old Henin became the first-ever reigning women's world No. 1 to retire from the sport.
Serena captured this Roman event in 2002, while her big sister Venus, who's also in action on Thursday, titled here in 1999 and was the runner-up in 1998.
A big Day-4 upset came when French qualifier Alize Cornet cut down third- seeded 2007 Rome runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 6-4. The U.S. Open runner- up Kuznetsova, of Russia, gave way to Serbian star Jelena Jankovic in last year's finale here.
A fourth-seeded Jankovic avoided an upset on Thursday by dismantling Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-1.
In other third-round action, sixth-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze snuck past 12th-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, ninth-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder overcame eighth-seeded Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli, of France, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7), and Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova was leading Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 1-0 when the Belarusian wild card retired with a left knee injury.
This year's Rome titlist will collect $196,900.
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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6
The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.
Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com. "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis. It's like Week 1 of the NFL. Pre-season means nada!
We do know the 24 finalists however.
Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24. He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway. He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien.
Brandon Rogers - Who?
Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition. He should go a good distance.
Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was. And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition. He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice! People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way.
"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks. He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes. But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.
A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”
Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes.
"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate. "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past. He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far. Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."
Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts)
And the others:
Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter
The girls
"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis. "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has. The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive. I think she will go far."
Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.
"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams. Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth. "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.
Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.
Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan
MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with).
Last two contestants will be?
1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)
2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)
2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)
MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.
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