US Open Odds

Flushing Meadows escaped from Hurricane Irene with only ‘minimal damage’ inflicted meaning that the US Open begins as planned on Monday. Novak Djokovic arrives as clear favourite in the men’s draw after a remarkable 2011 has seen him defeated only twice. The Wimbledon champion is a best price of 6/4 with Bet365 with reports suggesting that he is fully recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained in Cincinnati.

Djokovic was technically beaten there in the final by Andy Murray, although the Serb was forced to retire at 6-4 3-0 down. That won’t stop the British number one from taking huge encouragement from a Masters triumph in his last event before heading to New York. That result has seen a shift in the betting patterns; the Scot has shortened to a best price of 5/1 with WilliamHill while five-time champion Roger Federer has been eased out to 7/1 by SportingBet. Defending champion Rafa Nadal is a best price of 9/2 with the same firm. There will be some patriotic optimism that Mardy Fish can make an impact off the back of a summer of success on the US hard courts. The American is 33/1 with Boylesports after reaching a career-high ranking of number seven, and he even beat Nadal for the first time.

In the women’s draw Serena Williams is the one to beat having returned to form following her long break through injury. The 13-time singles Slam winner is a best price of 13/8 with Coral after winning back-to-back tournaments in Stanford followed by the Rogers Cup. Serena’s bid for a hat-trick ended a fortnight ago after she withdrew from the Western and Southern Open with a minor toe injury. As with Djokovic, a rest is seen as all that was needed to keep her as worthy favourite.

Next in the betting are the two Wimbledon finalists. SW17 champion Petra Kvitova is 14/1 with SportingBet to make it a Slam double, while the Centre Court runner-up Maria Sharapova is much shorter at 11/2 with Coral. World number one Caroline Wozniacki is still looking for her first major; the Dane is 16/1 to break her duck with SkyBet. French Open champion Li Na is 20/1 with VictorChandler in what could prove to be another wide open event, especially if Serena falls short of her best.