Overdue Fish finally hits his stride

Tennis Betting Lines

07/26/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota native Mardy Fish is currently enjoying the best stretch of his tennis career since joining the pro ranks 10 years ago.

Don't look now, but the 28-year-old American has now won his last two tournaments, both on U.S. soil, and has performed in no less than three finals in his last four events.

That's hot!

The big-serving Fish's most recent success came in Atlanta last week, as he came from behind to beat 6-foot-9 John Isner in an all-American final at the hardcourt Atlanta Tennis Championships. Isner, of course, made some history in the opening round at Wimbledon last month by playing in the longest-ever tennis match -- a three-day, 11-plus-hour epic against unlucky Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

Fish's spirited run started with a trip to the final at the grass-court Wimbledon tune-up at The Queen's Club last month. Unfortunately for Fish, he was unable to top Sam Querrey in that particular all-American finale.

Then, two weeks ago in Newport, Fish ran the table for his first title of 2010, as he handled vertically-challenged Belgian Olivier Rochus in a grass- court title tilt on the grounds of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

And his torrid run continued last week in "Hotlanta," where he posted a very- hard-fought 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory over the towering Isner, who starred collegiately at the nearby University of Georgia, in 2 hours, 45 minutes to give the Minnesotan only his fifth career title in his sixteenth final. The once-fitness-challenged Fish also had to overcome some extreme heat in order to outlast Isner, as on-court temperatures approached 150 degrees on Sunday. A dehydrated Fish required an IV after the match.

The 6-foot-2 backhand-mashing Fish is now riding a 10-match winning streak, and the only final he failed to reach in his last four outings was Wimbledon, where he gave way to Germany's Florian Mayer in disappointing fashion in the second round.

"This is as top as I've ever been," Fish said on Sunday. "I've never won two tournaments in one year, I've never won two tournaments in a row, and on the ATP Tour, I've never won 10 matches in a row. It's probably as good as it's been."

His biggest wins during this stretch may not have been the championship ones over Isner and Rochus, but rather ones against world No. 4 star Andy Murray at The Queen's Club and former world No. 1 Andy Roddick in Atlanta. Fish stunned Murray in a third-rounder in London on his way to the finale there, upending the Aussie Open runner-up Scot in three sets, including a match-deciding tiebreak, and he surprised his good friend Roddick, the top seed in the ATL, in straight sets in a semifinal last week.

Note: Four of Fish's five wins in Atlanta came against fellow countrymen.

The in-form 2004 Olympic silver medalist Fish, who's shed 30 pounds over the last year, is now up to No. 35 in the world, after starting the year at No. 55. He soared as high as No. 17 on the planet back in 2004, but was outside the top 100 as recently as this past March. The versatile Fish reached a career-high No. 14 in doubles at one point last season.

A two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist (2007 Aussie Open, 2008 U.S. Open), Fish has always had this type of potential, but we all know what that word means. And it doesn't mean much of anything if you don't put in the hard work, which Fish, in the past, has been accused of not doing. The ATP's 2006 Comeback Player of the Year has also battled a series of injuries over the years, including a knee injury that required surgery last fall.

But it's safe to say that Fish is finally firing on all cylinders right now.

On the personal front, Fish is married to the beautiful Stacey Gardner, an attorney and former "Briefcase Model" on the television show "Deal or No Deal." And, former top-five tennis star James Blake served as a groomsman at their wedding two years ago.

For his senior year of high school, Fish attended Boca Prep in Boca Raton, Florida, where he and Roddick were classmates. In 1999, Fish lived with Roddick's family, and the two promising young tennis prodigies played on the same tennis and basketball teams.

How 'bout that?

Also, Fish's father, Tom, is a tennis teaching professional.

The surging Fish is in the draw at this week's hardcourt ATP event in Los Angeles, where he's the eighth seed.

Can he make it three in a row?

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

Bet on NFL Football

Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.