Wozniacki v Petkovic

The odds on Caroline Wozniacki winning her quarter final clash at the US Open (1/2) are befitting of a world number one. Unfortunately for her, everything else suggests the prices should be very different. Consequently, opponent Andrea Petkovic looks like great value at best odds of 9/4 with Bet365.

Let’s start with the well-documented weaknesses of the top ranked player in the women’s game. Her biggest criticism is that her lofty status has never been justified by a Grand Slam title. Indeed, the Dane has only even made the final of one of the four majors on one occasion. The 21-year-old failed to answer her doubters when she meekly exited Wimbledon at the round of 16 again this year.

Monday’s win over Svetlana Kuznetsova was unconvincing yet again. The 6-7 7-5 6-1 scoreline shows that things only became comfortable for Wozniacki right at the end of a long battle. She simply outlasted her adventurous opponent with a defensive strategy that saw her hit more unforced errors than outright winners.

Petkovic is no mug herself. Seeded number ten, the German progressed through her recent rounds with relative ease. She has met Wozniacki on just two previous occasions, both in 2011. The Dane won on clay, but more relevantly, Petkovic won on the Miami hard courts. That is the surface they will clash on in New York and the outsider should fancy her chances against an opponent who must surely be feeling the pressure to deliver.

It looks like the match should be closer to evens, so odds of 9/4 on Petkovic are compelling.