US Open Womens Preview

Serena Williams is evens (general) to win the US Open, is it worth taking the American on? No in short, or at least not in the outright market. Williams is a worthy favourite as she ticks all the boxes. Does she like the venue? Yes she is a three-time winner at Flushing Meadows and two time beaten finalist here (including last year). Does she like the surface? Yes she does as the hardcourts of America could just make the tough serve even harder to stop. Does she have the form? Yes she has looked dominant this summer as she seemingly coasted her way to the Wimbledon and Olympic titles. The American did suffer a recent defeat in Cincinnati to Angelique Kerber though this should not be of too much worry to her backers. I could do nothing to put anyone off backing her though if you throw in the price and the fact Williams is capable of the occasional big tournament shocker I would not be getting involved at evens.

My strategy is to look at the second half of the draw and try find a possible EW chance to make the final. Victoria Azarenka is in fact the number one seed. The Belarussian was a beaten semi-finalist at Wimbledon and the Olympics (both to Williams) and also won the Australian Open. Her undoubted hard court skills means she is a deserved second favourite at 41/5 (pinnacle). Her first test is likely to come in the fourth round against German Sabine Lisicki (200/1-sportingbet) before a likely quarter-final with either Li Na 161/10 (pinnacle), Kim Clijsters (40/1-general) or Sam Stosur (40/1-general). I like the look of Azarenka to see off all of these and would recommend the 7/4 (betfred) on her to win her quarter.

The other quarter of the top half features Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova. Sharapova is evens (BWin/Coral) to win the second quarter and 97/10 (Pinnacle) third favourite. Since her win here in 2006 Sharapova does not have the best Flushing Meadows record and the price looks a little short especially with a tough quarter-final against Petra Kvitova scheduled. These two should serve up a great game but I would not like to call the winner.

Though the third quarter will likely be dominated by Serena Williams I would be interested in a bet on Caroline Wozniaci to make the last eight if you can find a bookmaker willing to price the market up. The Dane has slowly but surely been working her way back to form and was unlucky to run into the juggernaut that was Serena in the Olympic quarter-finals. Sadly for fans of the Dane she is expected to once more meet the American in the last eight here.

The fourth and final quarter market looks wide open and is headed by Angelique Kerber the only player to beat Serena recently. Kerber was a semi-finalist here last year and a beaten semi-finalist at Wimbledon. 15/8 (BetVictor/paddy Power) seems a little short to me though for the German. Other than last year Kerber has a terrible record here. In general her game is not the best on the hard courts and she has a hugely dangerous second round opponent in Venus Williams. I like the chances of Roberta Vinci at 66/1 (bet365) to land the fourth quarter. The Italian tends to do her best work on hardcourt (including a doubles final victory in Australia this year). Though that success came in the doubles she did reach the third round at Flushing Meadows in 2011 and in a wide open section she could finally turn some of that doubles form into singles success.

Go To bet365

#Ad

28/08/2012     © Frixo 2024