Dementieva rolls; Serena bows out in Madrid

Tennis Betting Lines

05/11/2009 - Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva was an easy second-round winner, while former world No. 1 Serena Williams retired from her opening-round match Monday at the inaugural $4.5 million Madrid Open.

The second-seeded Williams lost the first set 6-4 against Italian Francesca Schiavone and then exited the tournament, citing a right knee injury.

"I was just really hindered," Serena said. "My movement was hindered as a result of an injury I've been struggling with for some time. I'm trying to compete and do my best, and it didn't work out."

Williams is the reigning Australian Open and U.S. Open champ.

Meanwhile, the third-seeded Dementieva drubbed Spanish wild card Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-3, 6-2 on the red clay at La Caja Magica.

In other matches involving seeds on Day 3, No. 8 Russian Nadia Petrova outlasted German qualifier Anna-Lena Groenefeld 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5) in a second-round affair, while ninth-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki was leading Shahar Peer 5-4 in the first set when the Israeli retired from their opening- round encounter.

In some other second-round play on Monday, Russian qualifier Elena Vesnina vaulted past France's Virginie Razzano 7-5, 6-3, Swiss Patty Schnyder dismissed Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak 6-2, 6-4 and Russian Anna Chakvetadze outlasted Aussie Samantha Stosur 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

Additional first-round wins came for Italian qualifier Roberta Vinci, Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova, Chinese Peng Shuai, France's Amelie Mauresmo and American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko.

This week's top seed is world No. 1 Russian star Dinara Safina, who is fresh off her clay-court title in Rome.

Niftu Tennis Betting News

<< TE Gaines joins Bears
Lake Forest, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bears came to terms Monday on a one-year contract with tight end Michael Gaines, who spent last season playing for Detroit. The 29-year-old Gaines, a seventh-round draft pick by Carolina in 2

<< Cubs 1B Lee escapes stint on DL
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee will not have to make a trip to the disabled list, the club announced on Monday. Lee, who has been bothered with a stiff neck since last week, was examined by a team ort

<< Magpies climb out of bottom three
Newcastle, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Newcastle lifted itself out of the relegation zone and into 17th place on Monday as the Magpies secured a massive 3-1 win over Middlesbrough at St James' Park. An own goal from Newcastle's Habib B

<< Wide open Black-Eyed Susan Stakes has 10
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With leading three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra committed to start in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, a wide open Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course has attracted a field of 10. Friday'

<< Lightning tab Tocchet as full-time head coach with multi-year deal
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning elevated Rick Tocchet to head coach on a full-time basis Monday by agreeing on a multi-year contract. Tocchet, who had been hired as an assistant last offseason, took over in

Lakers' Odom questionable for Game 5 >>
El Segundo, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom has been diagnosed with a bruised lower back following a CT scan and MRI exam on Monday and is questionable for Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal series

Stewart-Haas Racing has exceeded expectations >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - At the start of this season, many were skeptical about Tony Stewart's foray into team ownership in the Sprint Cup Series. But Stewart has since silenced the critics and fellow competitors alike. He sits s

Modano will return to Stars for 20th season >>
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Modano, franchise icon of the Dallas Stars, announced on Monday his intention to return to play for the team in 2009-2010. "I've made my decision and I'm coming back to play," Modano said

Cowboys special teams coach DeCamillis released from hospital >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines)- Dallas Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis is resting at home with his family after being released from Parkland Hospital Sunday night. The 43-year-old DeCamillis sustained a fracture

CFL adopts rule changes based on suggestions from fans >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Canadian Football League Monday adopted several rule changes as suggested by fans. The biggest rule difference is moving kickoffs back 10 yards to the 25-yard line following a safety. Three other

Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook

Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds.  The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.

Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.

Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).

Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.

World Series odds

Adam Dunn 15-1

Albert Pujols 5-1

Alex Rodriguez 12-1

Alfonso Soriano 15-1

Andruw Jones 25-1

Barry Bonds 50-1

Carlos Delgado 40-1

David Ortiz 8-1

Jermaine Dye 40-1

Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1

Lance Berkman 40-1

Manny Ramirez 20-1

Richie Sexson 40-1

Ryan Howard 6-1

Travis Hafner 20-1

Vladimir Guerrero 40-1

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

Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back

With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.

"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."

Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .

Get all your baseball betting lines, MLB lines and MLB team props at the My Sportbook.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your baseball sportsbook needs.