Novak Djokovic (11/8) and Serena Williams (3/2) have been set as the favorites to win the fourth and final Grand Slam of 2011 in Flushing, Queens, as the US Open serves up blistering betting action from Aug. 29 to Sept. 11, 2011. If you want to beef up your betting account remember this MLB betting maxim and attribute it to tennis; you go broke betting favorites.
US Open Tennis Predictions: Who will win the Men’s 2011 US Open?
The men’s final at Cincinnati last week shows a glimpse into the bigger issue facing men’s tennis. Injuries, injuries and more injuries, and of the top four players only Andy Murray has emerged relatively healthy. Everyone from Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and Tsonga have had their tournaments shortened by injury. Going into the US Open next week it’s injuries to the top players that have plagued the ATP and this might actually finally open some sort of window for Murray. He has yet to make the breakthrough all of Britain has been waiting for, so the US Open provides a super opportunity for Murray to finally win his first Grand Slam. But it will take some work and a bit of luck to remain healthy if Murray, who is set at 5/1, is to win the 2011 Men’s U.S. Open. He made his last Grand Slam final appearance at the Australian Open earlier this year where he lost to Djokovic in straight sets.
Djokovic, meanwhile, is everyone’s lock to win his first US Open title and continue his stranglehold on No.1. Djokovic lost in the US Open finals last year to Rafael Nadal and should be considered a very strong contender. However, he was beaten by Roger Federer in the semi-finals at Roland Garros, and he is battling a right shoulder injury that was exposed in his retirement in the finals against Murray in Cincinnati where the No. 4 seed Murray ended Djokovic’s 31-match hard-court winning streak in 2011 when he retired trailing Murray, 6-3, 3-0, at the Cincinnati Masters Series’ final. Murray clearly dominated the match, winning 10 of the first 11 points to go up 2-0 in the first set. Djokovic’s right shoulder was clearly powerless by the second set and the Scott was no match for the weakened Serb. No doubt Djokovic has an easy-ish first quarter of his draw, but it will get significantly harder in the marquee rounds if he can’t find the strength in his right shoulder.
Two years ago I picked Juan Martin Del Potro to win this event at 25/1 and he obliged. Unfortunately for JMDP, his chances of adding to that US Open slam appear slim this year even if his nagging physical injuries are behind him. While it appears his wrist issues are behind him, Del Potro at 10/1 seems like the board’s sucker bet. I am advising a play against Del Potro if the odds are right, but definitely do not back him to win the 2011 US Open.
Then there is Federer and Nadal, who for all of their matches have never met in a US Open Final due to the fact they were ranked one and two, respectively. Nadal has basically taken the summer off to nurse some old sore spots -- but in the two matches he played he lost to Ivan Dodig and Mardy Fish. Federer lost in the same two tournaments, and, like Nadal, did not progress further than the quarter-finals at Cincinnati.
Speaking of Mardy Fish, how can you not love the resilience and work ethic of this almost tennis has been? At 29 Fish is arguably the No. 1 American tennis player and has lost 20 pounds. With renewed confidence and cannon serve, Mardy is getting some serious love around the court, if he is ever going to win a Grand Slam, now is the time, in New York City.
Pick! Andy Murray, 5/1
Long Odds Pick! Mardy Fish, 20/1
Who will win the Women’s 2011 US Open?
Three-time US Open tennis champion Serena Williams pulled out of Cincinnati citing a toe injury, but that still isn’t going to fool bookmakers into making her into anything other than the favorite. And that’s for good reason as unless she is in the hospital, consider Serena a threat to win the entire tournament this year (even without a few toes). But, and this is a very big BUT (pun intended), Serena will face the toughest draw she has in a long time – starting in the third round with a likely matchup against Victoria Azarenka, who has played Serena tough in their last two matches. However, like Serena, the fourth-seeded Azarenka had to withdraw from Cincinnati with a hand injury. Something tells me that Azarenka might get the better of Serena this time.
Her sister, Venus, is set at a tempting 22/1, but I am very serious when I say don’t take the bait. The elder Williams sister has had some sort of viral infection and has not played since Wimbledon. Even without the illness I wasn’t especially high on Venus as, in my opinion, she has hit and surpassed a professional athlete’s plateau of performance and is now on the down slope of her illustrious tennis career. Her early exit at Wimbledon is only a portent of what is to come for the twilight of Venus’ tennis career. With that in mind, I’d be surprised if she makes it past Stosur in the second round, so lay off Venus.
Here is one reason why….I am going to throw my dart at the No. 10 seeded Aussie Samantha Stosur as my long odds pick for the US Open. Stosur is commanding a nifty 33/1 if she makes it through two humid weeks in Flushing. Last week was a sweaty affair at Cincinnati, and Stosur beat French Open winner Na Li in three sets. Stosur has been hitting well and, most importantly, her footwork has improved. Last year Stosur made it to the quarter-finals, so if she can win just two more matches this year…
I have started to feel the same way about No.1 seed Caroline Wozniacki that I felt about what’s her name? Right, you see how easy it is to forget her? Marat’s sister, Safina, the last WTA player to hold the No. 1 ranking without winning a Grand Slam. If Wozniacki goes out early from this Slam she’ll likely lose her No. 1 ranking to the woman I think will actually dominate the tournament.
If you haven’t seen Djokovic’s impersonation of Maria Sharapova look for it. Djokovic is called the Djoker for good reason. He is hilarious in his commercial for a tennis racquet manufacturer. What I enjoyed the most about it was Sharapova was able to joke about it as well and have some fun, and, well, loosen up a bit. In my mind this tournament is Sharapova’s to lose. Sharapova dominated in the heat at Cincinnati and won the title. While Sharapova lost in the finals at Wimbledon to my pick, Petra Kvitova, in a thrilling three-set match, a relaxed Maria will be hungry for this title and I would not be surprised to see a rematch of the Wimbledon final in two weeks.
Pick! Maria Sharapova, 5/1
Long Odds Pick! Samantha Stosur, 33/1
Odds to win Women’s 2011 US Open
Flushing, NY, August 29-September 11, 2011
Novak Djokovic 11/8
Rafael Nadal 4/1
Roger Federer 9/2
Andrew Murray 5/1
Juan Martin Del Potro 10/1
Mardy Fish 20/1
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 25/1
Tomas Berdych 33/1
Robin Soderling 40/1
Andy Roddick 80/1
David Ferrer 100/1
David Nalbandian 100/1
Ernests Gulbis 100/1
Fernando Verdasco 100/1
Gael Monfils 100/1
John Isner 100/1
Marcos Baghdatis 100/1
Marin Cilic 100/1
Milos Raonic100/1
Richard Gasquet 100/1
Alexandr Dolgopolov 125/1
Bernard Tomic 125/1
Mikhail Youzhny 125/1
Stanislas Wawrinka 125/1
Gilles Simon 150/1
Jurgen Melzer 150/1
Nikolay Davydenko 150/1
Sam Querrey 150/1
Viktor Troicki 150/1
Feliciano Lopez 200/1
Florian Mayer200/1
Ivan Ljubicic 200/1
Janko Tipsarevic 200/1
Fernando Gonzalez 250/1
Grigor Dimitrov250/1
Nicolas Almagro 250/1
James Blake 300/1
Michael Llodra 300/1
Thomaz Bellucci 300/1
Odds to win Women’s 2011 US Open
Flushing, NY, August 29-September 11, 2011
Serena Williams 3/2
Maria Sharapova 5/1
Petra Kvitova 8/1
Victoria Azarenka 9/1
Vera Zvonareva 14/1
Caroline Wozniacki 16/1
Na Li 16/1
Venus Williams 22/1
Sabine Lisicki 25/1
Agnieszka Radwanska 33/1
Andrea Petkovic 33/1
Samantha Stosur 33/1
Jelena Jankovic 40/1
Marion Bartoli 40/1
Ana Ivanovic 66/1
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 66/1
Julia Goerges 66/1
Svetlana Kuznetsova 66/1
Daniela Hantuchova 80/1
Dominika Cibulkova 100/1
Francesca Schiavone 100/1
Yanina Wickmayer 100/1
Alisa Kleybanova 150/1
Flavia Pennetta 150/1
Aravane Rezai 200/1
Lucie Safarova200/1
Maria Kirilenko 200/1
Shahar Peer 200/1
Tsvetana Pironkova 200/1
Bojana Jovanovski 250/1
Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez 250/1
Laura Robson 400/1
*Odds courtesy of Bodog
Bovada Sportsbook •
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