ATP MASTERS: FEDERER AND BERDYCH IN ACTION

The upset bug that wrecked havoc at the Indian Wells Masters a fortnight ago has merrily flitted over to the Miami Masters, to do much of the same damage. Already, the tourney barely a few days old, it has claimed two of the events biggest victims in defending champion Andy Murray and 2009 runner-up Novak Djokovic.
When upsets rule, punter’s natural inclination is to search for other potential prey and this search wouldn’t discriminate between top players and their inferiors. Why? The allure of big payouts but of course. 
So top players Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych, who are inextricably set on a course for a fourth round date, are thrust under the microscope. Their upcoming third round clashes against Florent Serra and Horacio Zeballos, respectively, examined and probed to no end to determine whether they would indeed make that R16 appointment.
The attention focused on Le Fed is hardly surprising given that Federer was afflicted by the upset bug in Indian Wells, succumbing to Marco Baghdatis in the R32. There is also his marks at the Indian Wells-Miami Masters double to consider, which let’s just say haven’t been much to write home about over the last few years. Remember the racquet smash heard around the world? Yup that happened here; last year, when Federer train wrecked in his semi against Novak Djokovic he smashed his racquet to everyone's utter amazement. I believe there was a worldwide outcry of Mon dieux!
That there is a nervous trepidation where Tomas Berdych is concerned should come as no surprise either. As one of the most organically gifted players on the Tour, he can also be a spectacular train wreck. One never knows whether he will be clinical in the destruction of an opponent or suffer a brain cramp. It seems to happen at random.
Top British bookmaker William Hill has served up a veritable buffet of odds on Fed and Birdie’s clashes that tennis bettors have to taste.
Federer is listed at 1/33 odds to win outright over Florent Serra at 10/1. It will be the pairs first-ever clash at an ATP event but that shouldn’t knock a bother out of the Swiss maestro. Methinks Le Fed will come through for ye’ tennis buffs. He will be mindful of the upset bug that is lurking at Crandon Park and won’t take chances. I expect he will be efficient against Serra.
Birdie is a completely different story and I wouldn’t fault those of you that decide to buck the trend and bet against him. He should win of course, it is deemed so on paper. However, Horacio Zeballos had an encouraging account against Birdie last summer at the US Open, gave the Czech something to think about, he did, and he just might be audacious enough to mastermind the upset this time around. 
He weighs in as the significant lightweight in the market, trading at 7/2 to Birdie at 1/6, but who is to say he is aware of just how disadvantaged he is. He doesn't have to play to the tune of those odds. There is also Berdych’s legendary mental breakdowns to consider.
Where the Berdych vs. Zeballos clash is concerned, there is tons of value in the performance markets – from handicaps, totals and set and games betting. Sort your way through all the morsels and you could sate that tennis-betting appetite nicely. Federer vs. Serra should be a comprehensive Federer account, so choose your bets accordingly. Moreover, don't forget there is loads of .