AZARENKA the hard court queen to win the US Open

Serena Williams once more is a strong favourite for a tournament and the 4/5 (GENERAL) favourite which looks painfully short on a player who has made the final in just one of three Grand Slam tournaments this year. That being said she is the best player in the game, playing on a surface she loves in a tournament that she has made the final of in three of the last five years. Williams has to be respected though she can and should be take on.

Victoria Azarenka looks the most likely player to take on Williams and get revenge for her defeat to the American here in 2012. The Belarussian is an excellent hardcourt player with a recent record of 24 wins to just one loss from her last 25 matches on the surface. She won the Australian Open this year for the second year in a row which combined with her defeat in the US Open means it is three straight final appearances in hard court tournaments. Throw in a recent victory over Serena on the Tour and all the signs suggest that odds of 10/3 (STAN JAMES) should be taken.

Agnieszka Radwanska is the third favourite at 20/1 (YOU WIN) which shows just how big the bookmakers think is the gap between Williams, Azarenka and the rest of the field. The Pole made the semi-finals here in 2011 but went out in the third round in Australia this year and having not gone past this stage any of their three Grand Slams in 2013 she is an uneasy 2/1 (CORAL) to win her quarter. Li Na is 9/4 (boylesports/CORAL) to win the quarter and she recently reached the semi-finals in Cincinnati before running into Serena and made the finals in Australia. Throw in the fact that she has won five of their six previous meetings on hard courts and she appeals more.

Another quarter favourite who I think can be taken on is Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane is 10/3 (SKYBET) which looks short on a player who has gone out in either the first or the second round in four of her last five tournaments. Simona Halep is the 7/2 (YOU WIN) second favourite for the quarter which despite improved performances on the Tour also looks a little short. The Romanian has not made it past the second round of any Grand Slam in any of the last ten so she looks another one to swerve. It is likely to come down to one of the Italian duo Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani with the fourth seeded Errani a 7/1 (GENERAL) chance while Vinci can be backed at 11/1 (betfred/CORAL/william hill). The pair combined together in 2012 for doubles success here at Flushing Meadows and I think one of them can go deep. Of the two Vinci appeals at the bigger price as she made the last eight of big hardcourt events in Miami and Cincinati this season and the last eight here last year.

Those looking to take on Serena to win her quarter might want to look to fellow American Sloane Stephens who is an 18/1 (CORAL) chance while Angelique Kerber is a 16/1 (boylesports/CORAL) hope.

The toughest opponent Azarenka could face are Sam Stosur who is 6/1 (BOYLESPORTS) for a quarter victory while Petra Kvitova is an 8/1 (888 SPORT/unibet) chance and Ana Ivanovic can be backed at 16/1 (GENERAL). Those who agree with the bookmakers and can only see two possible finalists can take the Serena/Azarenka repeat of last year at 2/1 (bet365).

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Victoria Azarenka to win the US Open, 10/3 (STAN JAMES)
SILVER: Li Na to win the second quarter, 9/4 (BOYLESPORTS/CORAL)
BRONZE: Roberta Vinci to win third quarter, 11/1 (betfred/CORAL/william hill)

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26/08/2013     © Frixo 2026