2013 US Open Tennis Starts Today
Tennis fans the world over are excited about the start today (Monday, August 26) of the 2013 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (Flushing Meadows) in New York City, the fourth and final Grand Slam of 2013.
All Eyes on Defending Champ Murray
There is little doubt that many eyes will be on defending US Open champion, Andy Murray, who just over a year ago had still not won a Grand Slam, but today has two under his belt (the 2013 Wimbledon Men's Singles title being the other). Can the Scot win back-to-back US Open tennis tournaments is the big betting question?
The answer is a categorical yes he can. After winning Wimbledon 2013, the 26-year-old Scot not only climbed the ATP rankings to world # three (behind world # one Novak Djokovic of Serbia and world # two Rafael Nadal of Spain), but his confidence will still be high after dispatching the competition at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Add to that the fact Murray is very fond of hard courts, which is why he'll no doubt be one of the biggest threats in this year's US Open. That said, from a betting perspective many land and online sportsbooks have not posted Murray as the favorite or even second favourite. That honor has been bestowed on rivals Nadal and Djokovic, respectively.
Nadal is Men's US Open Betting Favorite
The injury-prone Rafael Nadal made a welcome return to the circuit earlier this year after a 7-month "injury sabbatical," but then made headlines when he was unceremoniously dispatched in the first round of Wimbledon by virtual unknown, Steve Darcis. However, he was forgiven this loss of form, considering that just weeks before he won the French Open for the fourth consecutive year (his eighth French Open title overall).
Putting his injury woes and Wimbledon behind him, Nadal has come back fighting this year by racking up back-to-back tournament wins in Montreal and Cincinnati. His high confidence and excellent form is why he has been posted as the US Open betting favourite. Assuming he comes into Flushing Meadows firing on all cylinders, he only has two rivals to worry about - Djokovic and Murray.
Djokovic comes into the US Open as the top seed and with vengeance in his heart after Murray got the better of him in last year's US Open final. Unfortunately, a Djokovic/Murray final is not on the cards this year, because assuming each progresses unbeaten, they are scheduled to meet in the semi-finals. Still, reaching that showdown should entail many action-packed and bet-worthy matches on the way.
2013 US Open Men's Singles Betting Odds (Top 10)
Rafael Nadal - 7/4
Novak Djokovic - 2/1
Andrew Murray - 7/2
Roger Federer - 11/1
Juan Martin Del Potro - 12/1
Tomas Berdych - 40/1
John Isner - 50/1
David Ferrer - 66/1
Jerzy Janowicz - 66/1
Milos Raonic - 80/1
Williams is Women's US Open Betting Favorite
In terms of the US Open women's singles tournament, unsurprisingly, defending champion Serena Williams has been posted as the betting favorite (2/3 odds at Bodog) to win her second consecutive Open, and her fifth overall. Second favorite is Victoria Azarenka (3/1) and Agnieszka Radwanska (16/1).
Personally, I cannot wait to watch (and listen to) the plethora of the world's best female tennis pros unceremoniously grunt and shriek across court in the coming weeks, as if each of their respective serves, forehands, backhands, volleys and slices has been specially designed to bring on a much-needed bowel movement in a parallel universe somewhere.
2013 US Open Women's Singles Betting Odds (Top 10)
Serena Williams - 2/3
Victoria Azarenka - 3/1
Agnieszka Radwanska - 16/1
Li Na - 16/1
Petra Kvitova - 25/1
Samantha Stosur - 25/1
Simona Halep - 40/1
Sloane Stephens - 40/1
Caroline Wozniacki - 50/1
Sabine Lisicki - 50/1
