Makarova to meet Wickmayer in Estoril final

Tennis Betting Lines

05/08/2009 - Estoril, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ekaterina Makarova of Russia and Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer were semifinal winners Friday at the Estoril Open and will meet for the title in Saturday's final.

The sixth-seeded Makarova was a 6-3, 6-1 winner over eighth-seeded German Anna-Lena Groenefeld, while Wickmayer was ahead 3-0 in the first set against Shahar Peer when the seventh-seeded Israeli decided she could not continue because of a foot injury.

Makarova will play in a WTA Tour final for the second straight week and for the second time in her career. She will also hope for a much better result, as Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 rout in last week's title match in Morocco.

Wickmayer will also make her second career appearance in a WTA Tour final and will try for her first title on Saturday. She was the runner-up to Kateryna Bondarenko last year in Birmingham.

Prior to this week's event, Wickmayer had a 2009 WTA Tour match record of just 1-4. She has already beaten three seeded players this week, having toppled No. 5 Petra Kvitova in the first round and No. 3 Sorana Cirstea in the quarterfinals before Friday's virtual walkover.

The 20-year-old Makarova and 19-year-old Wickmayer will meet for the first time in Saturday's final with a first prize of $37,000 at stake.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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