Online betting players are used to seeing a Williams hoisting a trophy after one of tennis’ Grand Slam tournaments has ended, by recently it has been all Serena, who has won five Grand Slams since Venus has won her last, Wimbledon in 2008. We’re banking on Venus to take advantage of her injured sister, as well as the rest of the field, on en route to her eighth major championship win.
What: Tennis Betting
When: August 30th-September 12th
Where: Billie Jean King National Tennis Center – Flushing Meadows, New York
Who: WTA
The Women’s US Open Betting Favorites – Serena Williams (+150), Kim Clijsters (+300), Maria Sharapova (+550), Venus Williams (+700)
Everything depends right now on Serena’s foot injury, and right now, she’s questionable. Serena has won this event in 1999, 2002 and 2008, and she’s won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year and is the dominant female player on the planet. But if she’s hurt, the door is open for Clijsters to go back-to-back at Flushing Meadows, and she also won here in 2005. Sharapova is another former champion who won in 2006, and is coming off a promising showing at Wimbledon. But the one to watch out of this group could be Serena’s sister Venus, who won the US Open in 2000 and 2001, and she’ll be hungry as she hasn’t won a major since the 2008 title at Wimbledon (little sister Serena has won five since then, by comparison). Venus hasn’t gotten past the quarterfinals in any major this year, and her long legs should suit her well on the hard courts in Flushing Meadows.
The Second Tier of Women’s US Open Betting Contenders – Caroline Wozniacki (+1200), Samantha Stosur (+1400), Jelena Jankovic (+1600), Vera Zvonareva (+1600)
Wozniacki fell to Clijsters in the final of the US Open last year, but she hasn’t reached the semifinals in any major this year, as she went to the quarterfinals of the French Open for her best result. Stosur went to the finals of the French Open, losing to Francesca Schiavone, and then she fell in the first round at Wimbledon. Stosur has never been past the second round at the US Open, so she may be punching above her weight here. Jankovic fell in the 2008 final at Flushing Meadows against Serena Williams, and as far as results go, the US Open is her best tournament. Zvonareva is the darkhorse here as she is coming off a loss to Serena in the final at Wimbledon, but she’s never been past the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
The Longshots For Women’s US Open Betting – Elena Dementieva (+2000), Victoria Azarenka (+2000), The Field
Dementieva is back in the field after a torn calf muscle forced her to retire in the semifinals at Roland Garros, and it also caused her to miss Wimbledon. She’s gone to the final of the US Open just once, losing to Sveltlana Kuznetsova in 2004, and Dementieva made it to the semis in 2000, 2005 and 2008. Azarenka has never made it past the quarterfinals of any major tournament, and is coming off a first-round elimination in the French Open, as well as falling in the third round at Wimbledon, so it’s a wonder why she has odds that are even this good.
It’s been a long time since Venus Williams has won a Grand Slam as little sister Serena has taken over the biggest titles in tennis, and don’t think Venus isn’t upset about it. Her game is made for the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, where she can get to virtually any ball because of her graceful stride. She may even be a bit hungrier as she fell in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, her best tournament, and there’s no better way to turn your fortunes around then with a victory. We’re taking Venus Williams to fly the family flag and, that will net you a win in your sports betting book.
Women’s US Open Betting Pick: Venus Williams