10/15/2008 - Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - U.S. Open champion Roger Federer, Australian Open titlist Novak Djokovic and former world No. 1 Andy Roddick highlighted Wednesday's second-round winners at the $2.78 million Madrid Masters -- the eighth of nine ATP Masters Series events this year.
The second-seeded Swiss Federer, playing his first ATP match since capturing a fifth straight U.S. Open title last month, drove past dangerous Czech Radek Stepanek 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) on the indoor hardcourt at Madrid Arena.
The 13-time major champion and 2006 Madrid titlist Federer was upset by Argentine star David Nalbandian in last year's finale here.
Federer's third-round opponent on Thursday will be Australian Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
The third-seeded Djokovic was leading qualifier Victor Hanescu 3-1 in the third set on Day 4 when the Romanian retired due to a leg injury. The Serbian Djokovic dropped the first set 6-7 (8-10) and won the second 7-6 (8-6) before embarking on the abbreviated third.
Up next for Djokovic will be 6-foot-10 Croatian slugger Ivo Karlovic.
An eighth-seeded Roddick rolled past Spanish crowd favorite Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4 in a brisk 68 minutes to setup a third-rounder against French Open semifinalist Gael Monfils. Roddick fired 13 aces at the overmatched Robredo, who failed to break the American's massive serve throughout.
Upsets came when American qualifier Robby Ginepri took out fifth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, Feliciano Lopez upended sixth-seeded fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) and the French Monfils toppled 12th-seeded Olympic silver medalist Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4. Monfils was a runner-up in Vienna last week. The Chilean Gonzalez reached the final here in Madrid in 2006, losing to Federer.
Meanwhile, a seventh-seeded and defending Madrid champion Nalbandian got past big Czech Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, ninth-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro downed Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 4-2 and 10th-seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka overcame German Philipp Kohlschreiber 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5). Nieminen retired in the second set against del Potro due to a leg injury. Nalbandian, who also reached the Madrid finale in 2004, is fresh off his title in Stockholm last week.
In other second-round action, a 14th-seeded Karlovic snuck past last week's Stockholm runner-up Robin Soderling, of Sweden, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (10-8) and a 16th-seeded Tsonga came back to beat Spanish qualifier Marcel Granollers 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).
In addition to Federer-Tsonga, Djokovic-Karlovic and Roddick-Monfils here on Thursday, world No. 1 Spanish hero Rafael Nadal will take on 15th-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet. The 2005 Madrid titlist Nadal is the reigning Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic champ.
Some other marquee third-rounders on Day 5 will pit fourth-seeded U.S. Open runner-up Andy Murray against rising Croat Marin Cilic and Nalbandian versus his Argentine countryman del Potro.
The 2008 Madrid titlist will collect $490,000.
<< Blue Jackets put F Boll on IR
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets placed forward Jared
Boll on injured reserve Wednesday.
Boll, who is suffering from a head/neck injury, is expected to be out for the
next seven-to-10 days.
In his second season
<< Report: Celtics to exercise option on Rondo
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics reportedly plan to exercise
their option for the 2009-2010 season on point guard Rajon Rondo, an integral
member of the club's championship run last season.
Celtics general manager Danny
<< Federer, Djokovic reach third round at Madrid Masters
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - U.S. Open champion Roger Federer and
Australian Open titlist Novak Djokovic were among Wednesday's second-round
winners at the $2.78 million Madrid Masters -- the eighth of nine ATP
Masters Series events thi
<< Furyk clips Harrington to win PGA Grand Slam of Golf
Tucker's Town, Bermuda (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jim Furyk sank an 8-foot putt for
eagle on the first playoff hole to defeat Padraig Harrington and capture the
26th annual PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
This event is reserved for the year's four ma
Former Chargers DL Mims dead >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former San Diego Chargers defensive lineman
Chris Mims was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment on Wednesday. He was
38.
According to KTLA in Los Angeles, police say that Mims was found around 9:30
Report: Notre Dame TE Yeatman suspended for season >>
South Bend, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Notre Dame has reportedly suspended tight
end Will Yeatman for the rest of the 2008 season after a second alcohol-
related offense this year.
The South Bend Tribune reported Wednesday that Ye
North Carolina WR Tate undergoes surgery >>
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - North Carolina senior wide receiver Brandon
Tate underwent successful surgery on his right knee Wednesday to repair a torn
ACL and MCL.
The operation was performed by Dr. Tim Taft at UNC Hospitals.
"We
Seven groups submit applications for MLS expansion >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seven potential ownership groups submitted
official applications to become one of the next two Major League Soccer
expansion teams, MLS President Mark Abbott announced on Wednesday.
The U.S.'s top-
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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