For the next two weeks, tennis fans and bettors will be kept busy taking in and wagering on The US Open. Held annually in New York at the USTA National Tennis Center and Arthur Ashe Stadium, The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year and over at Bodog Sportsbook - sports bettors are eager to make their picks on who they think will win men's and women's singles championships.

Current No. 1 seed Dinara Safina overcame a 3-0 deficit in the third set of her first-round match on Tuesday to avoid becoming the first top-seeded player to be upset in the first round of any Grand Slam since 2001. Still, Serena Williams is our favorite at Bodog Sportsbook for this tournament, with older sister Venus right behind. If history teaches us anything, you can count on seeing both sisters in the semifinals.

At this point, none of the other legitimate female players are playing consistent enough to be a real threat to the Williamses. Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters has added a little interest among bettors, but a healthy and determined Maria Sharapova could prove to provide bettors with even more reason to watch and bet on women's tennis.

On the men's side, Roger Federer is the favorite at Bodog, but bettors haven't exactly been beating down the doors (so to speak) to get their wagers in on the Swiss champion. Despite Rafael Nadal's recent injuries he's still another big draw. Of course it helps that Federer and Nadal are on opposite sides of the draw and can't meet until a final. Federer is the reigning five-time US Open champ and can break a three-way tie with Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras for the second-most US Open titles in history with a sixth win on Sunday, Sept. 13th.

I'm leaning towards a Federer/Murray final. Murray has won six of the nine career matchups, including two of three this year. But Federer beat him on the hardcourts of Cincinnati leading into the U.S. Open.

American bettors typically like to bet on American players at this tournament, so we expect plenty of U.S. action on the only true American men's hope - Andy Roddick. Bettors seem to have renewed faith in him after his inspirational Wimbledon performance. The big-serving Roddick still has just the one major championship, that coming at the 2003 US Open - the last time Federer didn't win this. Roddick would likely have to beat Djokovic in the quarterfinals to have a shot at Federer in the semis. Roddick is just 2-19 all-time against Federer, with the last meeting coming in the epic final at the All England Club.

I will be posting weekly articles including betting previews, matchups and the inside scoop from a bookmakers point of view right here at Doc's Sports.  Read my past articles - Click Here, and learn more about Bodog sportsbook - click here. If you're ready to set up an account and start playing I'd like to offer you a Sign up Bonus - Click Here.  Enjoy the Bodog Experience.