Clijsters, Sharapova land in Cincy SFs

Tennis Betting Lines

08/13/2010 - Mason, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters and 10th-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova were both straight-set quarterfinal winners Friday at the $2 million Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open, a hardcourt U.S. Open Series event.

The fourth-seeded former world No. 1 Clijsters, of Belgium, got past 11th- seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 on the hardcourts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

The two-time U.S. Open champion Clijsters' semifinal opponent on Saturday will be fellow former top-ranked star Ana Ivanovic, who continued her quality stay here with a 6-1, 6-3 handling of Uzbekistanian qualifier Akgul Amanmuradova. The 22-year-old Serbian Ivanovic is a former French Open champ who has appeared in three Grand Slam finals.

Three-time major champion and former world No. 1 Sharapova handled 16th-seeded Marion Bartoli of France 6-1, 6-4 in 1 hour, 22 minutes. The Russian fired nine aces, compared to one for Bartoli.

Meanwhile, surging Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova dismissed 12th-seeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 on a very hot Day 5 here. The 19-year- old Pavlyuchenkova is coming off a title in Istanbul and has now won her last nine matches on tour.

Pavlyuchenkova and Sharapova will be playing each other for the first time on Saturday.

This week's champ will take home $350,000.

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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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