McHale will open for U.S. against Azarenka

Tennis Betting Lines

02/03/2012 - Worcester, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A Fed Cup World Group II matchup between the United States and Belarus will get underway Saturday with a rubber between American teenager Christina McHale and newly-crowned world No. 1 star Victoria Azarenka.

The best-of-five tie will be staged on an indoor hardcourt at Worcester's DCU Center.

Azarenka-McHale will be followed by a match between former No. 1 American great Serena Williams and Olga Govortsova on Day 1.

The 22-year-old Azarenka is fresh off her first-ever Grand Slam title, which she attained by beating former top-ranked star Maria Sharapova in last week's Aussie Open finale. The Belarusian slugger also ascended to No. 1 in the world in the process.

Sunday's reverse singles in Massachusetts will pit the U.S. Open runner-up Williams against Azarenka 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.

Venus hasn't played anywhere since pulling out in the first week of last year's U.S. Open, as she has been slowed by Sjogren's syndrome, an incurable autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain.

The former No. 1 Serena is a 13-time Grand Slam champion, while her fellow former top-ranked older sister boasts seven major championships.

The Americans, captained by Mary Joe Fernandez, and Belarusians are not in the World Group this year, which means neither team can capture the Fed Cup title in 2012. The U.S. is the all-time leader with 17 championships.

This will mark the first-ever Fed Cup meeting between the U.S. and Belarus.

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

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Matt Kenseth And Kevin Harvick Favorites To Take NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship

(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

One of the largest sportsbook sites on the Internet, MySportsbook.com currently lists the top two drivers in the point standings as the early favorites to win the Nextel Cup. Entering the Chase for the Cup with a slim five-point lead in the point standings, 2003 NASCAR champ Matt Kenseth has been made a slight favorite to win his second Cup at 7/2 betting odds. 2001 Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick has betting odds listed at 5/2 and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is listed at 6/1 to capture the Nextel Cup this year.

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father who won six NASCAR titles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands at 8/1 to breakthrough with his first Cup victory. Staying with the family theme, MySportsbook.com lists 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch at 14/1 to succeed big brother Kurt’s 2004 NASCAR title. While Kasey Kahne was the final driver to qualify for the Chase with a third place finish last week, the oddsmakers give him a fighting chance at 10/1 mainly due to several mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule. Despite going winless on the NASCAR circuit this season, Jeff Burton enters the Chase at 5/1 to capture the Cup title. Meanwhile, rookie Denny Hamlin is 4/1 to win the championship, while veteran driver Mark Martin enters the Chase for the Cup as a 15/1 long shot to win his first NASCAR title in his 24th and final season.

MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.

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