Cilic wins; Kiefer falls in Munich

Tennis Betting Lines

05/06/2009 - Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second-seeded Croat Marin Cilic was an easy second-round winner Wednesday, while German favorite Nicolas Kiefer exited the draw at the $595,000 clay-court BMW Open.

The rising world No. 15 Cilic handled German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-0, 6-4, while a sixth-seeded Kiefer bowed out against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) at MTTC Iphitos. Kohlschreiber titled here two years ago.

Another upset came when Russian Mikhail Youzhny, the 2007 runner-up to Kohlschreiber, doused third-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, while seventh-seeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu avoided an upset with a 6-1, 6-4 handling of German Denis Gremelmayr.

Cilic will meet Chardy in Friday's quarterfinals, while Mathieu will encounter Youzhny.

In some second-round action here on Thursday, last year's Munich runner-up Simone Bolelli will face fellow Italian Potito Starace and former world No. 1 star Lleyton Hewitt will battle Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker. Bolelli lost to Chilean slugger Fernando Gonzalez in last year's finale here.

The 2009 Munich titlist will collect $95,000.

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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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