US Open Tennis: Men's Tip

When I started looking through the form for the US Open a few days ago I was finding myself somewhat torn. One thing I felt confidence of was that Novak Djokovic was looking very opposable at short odds that were hard to justify. At that point Roger Federer was just about looking like the value, but that has all changed now with play at Flushing Meadows set to get underway later.

Andy Murray was already tempting at 7/2 on Saturday, but he really has to be backed now at best odds of 5/1 with WilliamHill. There has to be genuine hope that the Scot has been unshackled by his thrilling gold medal triumph at London 2012. On the Centre Court of Wimbledon, the world number four was dominant when dispatching Djokovic and Federer in straight sets.

Cynics will inevitably question whether Murray can replicate Olympic heroics in Grand Slam competition, but the most important factor is that the man himself feels he has had a career-defining breakthrough. He overwhelmed Federer (11/4 Boylesports) in a best-of-five encounter that both men really wanted to win.

Admittedly, preparations for Britain’s big hope haven’t been ideal with a minor injury in Canada being followed by a surprise defeat at the Cincinnati Masters. But Murray seems unfazed:  “ I went into Wimbledon this year having lost in the first round of Queen’s. That was meant to be a horrible preparation, but Wimbledon worked out fine. So there’s no reason why that can’t happen here.”

The odds are simply a reflection of history, which is largely irrelevant. Based on form and big match momentum, the patriotic bet is the right bet at Flushing Meadows.