U.S. takes a 2-0 lead over Belarus at Fed Cup

Tennis Betting Lines

02/04/2012 - Worcester, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Americans Christina McHale and Serena Williams were both winners on Saturday to give the U.S. a 2-0 advantage over Belarus in a Fed Cup World Group II matchup.

This is the first-ever Fed Cup meeting between the two countries in the best- of-five matchup.

McHale was scheduled to play against newly-crowned world No. 1 star Victoria Azarenka, who is coming off her first-ever Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, but the 22-year-old Belarusian withdrew from the match earlier in the day with a lower back injury.

The American teenager instead faced off against Anastasia Yakimova and easily dispatched her 6-0, 6-4.

McHale was up 4-0 in the second set before Yakimova won the next four games, but McHale rallied to take the next two and the first rubber for the U.S.

Yakimova committed eight double faults in the match and hit 27 unforced errors, while McHale converted on 6-of-8 break opportunities in the nearly 1 1/2 hour match.

The former No. 1 American Williams came on next and battled through the first set against Olga Govortsova before rolling in the second to earn a 7-5, 6-0 victory.

Govortsova converted on her lone break chance in the first set, but also committed seven double faults and 19 unforced errors. Williams then dominated the second set despite hitting 14 unforced errors.

Sunday's reverse singles in Massachusetts will pit the U.S. Open runner-up Williams against Azarenka, who is still eligible to compete if healthy, and the New Jersey native McHale versus Govortsova, while the doubles currently call for an American duo of Venus Williams and Liezel Huber to battle a Belarusian pairing of Azarenka and Govortsova on Day 2.

The winner here will advance to the World Group playoffs and have a chance to compete for the Fed Cup title next year.

Wwwquam Tennis Betting News

<< Capitals shutout Canadiens on road
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tomas Vokoun made 30 saves to record his third shutout of the season, as the Washington Capitals snapped a four-game road skid with a 3-0 victory over Montreal. Dennis Wideman, Matt Hendricks and Alexan

<< Youzhny to face Lacko for Zagreb crown
Zagreb, Croatia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mikhail Youzhny and Lukas Lacko were semifinal winners Saturday and will meet for the title at the Zagreb Indoors tennis tournament. The third-seeded Youzhny eased into the title match with a 6-3

<< Devils hold off Flyers for 6-4 win
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kurtis Foster scored two power-play goals and collected an assist, as the New Jersey Devils fended off a valiant comeback effort by the Philadelphia Flyers to escape the Wells Fargo Center with a

<< Pens edge Bruins for ninth win in 10 games
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins edged the Boston Bruins, 2-1, at TD Garden. Evgeni Malkin and Matt Cooke tallied goals for the Penguins, winners in nine of their last 10 ga

<< No. 6 Baylor holds off Oklahoma State
Stillwater, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Perry Jones III had 16 points and 11 rebounds as No. 6 Baylor survived to take a 64-60 win over Oklahoma State. Pierre Jackson scored 16 points while Quincy Acy added 11 points and 12 rebounds

Ohio State tops Wisconsin to remain atop Big Ten >>
Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jared Sullinger had 24 points and 10 rebounds, as No. 3 Ohio State edged No. 19 Wisconsin, 58-52, in a matchup of Big Ten elites. The Buckeyes (20-3, 8-2 Big Ten) entered Saturday just a half game ahead

PSG tops Evian to maintain lead in Ligue 1 >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - PSG maintained its three-point lead atop Ligue 1 on Saturday with a vital 3-1 win over Evian at the Parc des Princes. It was a resilient performance from the home side, as Evian took the lead just before

Capitals shut out Canadiens on road >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tomas Vokoun made 30 saves to record his third shutout of the season, as the Washington Capitals snapped a four-game road skid with a 3-0 victory over Montreal. Dennis Wideman, Matt Hendricks and Alexan

Raymond lifts Canucks over Avs in SO >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mason Raymond scored the lone goal in the shootout, as the Vancouver Canucks rallied to beat the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2, at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche were staring at an empty net with a lead in ha

Parcells, 3 WRs not among HOF inductees >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bill Parcells, who won two Super Bowls as a head coach, and all three wide receivers up for consideration failed to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Curtis Martin, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Do

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

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