Makarova's recent grass court form is outstanding - but will it beat Venus Williams?
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Venus Williams will play on Day 3 at the All England Club in a match that may provide a challenge. Williams has drawn a young player who has recently made a little bit of a name for herself in Ekaterina Makarova.
Makarova turned 22 earlier this month and she picked up her first tour title in Eastbourne this past weekend. While that may not impress many enough to back her to beat Venus Williams the argument could be made that that is the right play to make.
Firstly Makarova is coming in long at +550 (11/2) with Victor Chandler. Secondly, Williams is no better than -550 (2/11), odds that can be found with Boylesports. Pounding a 30 year old in women's tennis is a really risky play against a 22 year recent titlist.
Thirdly, Makarova's form in Eastbourne was nowhere near ordinary. She was ranked 100th pre-tournament and she had to go through qualifying to make the main draw. By the time she had won the $600,000 tournament she had won 8 consecutive grass court matches ALL OF WHICH WERE IN STRAIGHT SETS AND THE FIELD INCLUDED TONS OF TOP PLAYERS.
Makarova beat Victoria Azarenka, Samantha Stosur, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova, and Flavia Pennetta on the way to the title. Kim Clijsters was also in the tournament although neither of the Williams sisters were.
Venus has drawn a test here in the second round and it is a bit of an unlucky draw. There is no way Makarova can be considered +550 (11/2) in this match and the true odds probably are closer to this:
Venus -200 vs Makarova +200.
Williams will probably still win 7-5, 7-5 but if the match can be expected to be close and therefore hinging on few important games, then a +550 underdog is good to go as she may only need a few lucky bounces.
Paddy Power have Makarova's handicap at +5.5 (-110) and that certainly looks good to go.
As a side note, avoid Williams in the futures market until after this match is over. Also, if Makarova should win this match hunt out some betting lines for her to win her quarter.
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