US Open Tip: Mardy Fish e/w

The bookies have finally got the odds on Novak Djokovic winning about right after the Serb was ludicrously offered up, and snapped up, at 4/1 to win Wimbledon. At 6/4 at the start of this week, the odds are far less tempting. But with Nadal and Federer looking somewhat short of their best, and with Andy Murray under pressure to find a first Slam title, could there be an opportunity for an underdog to shine? The man who could upset the established order, and who currently offers up the best value, is Mardy Fish - an excellent each-way prospect at 33/1 with Boylesports.

Fish is enjoying a golden summer that saw his world ranking rise to a career-best of number seven. The first encouraging signs came at Wimbledon when the American defeated 2010 finalist Tomas Berdych before giving Rafa Nadal a run for his money over four sets in the quarter-finals. The 29-year-old was to recently gain revenge on the hard courts when he beat the Spaniard 6-3 6-4 in the Western and Southern Open in August. The big server also reached the final of the Rogers Cup where he only narrowly lost to Djokovic 6-2 3-6 6-4.

This hard court specialist is in the shape of his life after shedding a huge amount of weight, and his game is now at its peak too. The draw looks pretty kind and reaching the final eight would be a minimum expectation. With a patriotic crowd behind him, it is just possible that Fish cold emulate the run of Andy Roddick who went all the way back in 2003. Federer and Nadal are not looking their best and could be there for the taking.

You have to be realistic and say that Djokovic looks like a likely winner, but maybe his shoulder injury will affect him. Regardless, a punt on Fish at 33/1 can still be highly profitable because Boylesports will pay out at 1/2 odds if he reaches the final. This makes the each-way bet on the winner market a better option than simply ‘to reach the final’ at 14/1 with VictorChandler.