Tennis fans have been itching for some Grand Slam action, and Flushing Meadows will finally serve up some of the elite-level action fans of the sport have been craving for since January’s Australian Open.
For understandable reasons, a few high-profile names have opted to give this year’s tournament a miss, but could that open the door for some new talent to burst through on the biggest stage of the all?
Here are our 2020 US Open tennis betting tips before the action begins in New York…
US Open Men’s Singles Betting
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
The Serbian ace looks the red-hot favourite to land his 18th slam, with two major obstacles in his path already cleared by the absence of old rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
That means it’s now effectively Novak vs the ‘Next Generation’ for the right to lift this year’s Men’s US Open title, but so far, most of his younger contemporaries have shown precious few signs of seriously discomforting him in Grand Slam competition.
One name Djokovic will be happy to see omitted from this year’s US Open entry list is Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss was his nemesis at last year’s US Open in the fourth round as well as in his last defeat in a Flushing Meadows final.
DOMINIC THIEM
If any first-time Grand Slam winner can knock Djok from his perch, it’s Thiem. Such is the dominance of the ‘Big Three’ in men’s tennis over the last decade, it’s easy to overlook the fact that much of the ‘next generation’ are actually no longer spring chickens themselves.
At 26, the Austrian is fast approaching his prime and won’t have many better chances to pick up a Grand Slam title given the relative lack of star power taking part in this year’s tournament. Djokovic remains his major mental stumbling block having lost to the Serbian in this year’s Australian Open Final, but Thiem is edging closer to his Slam breakthrough having taken that match to five sets.
DANIIL MEDVEDEV
The talented 24-year old Russian still has plenty to prove in Grand Slam competition, having only advanced beyond the fourth round once in his career to date.
However, crucially, that progress occurred at last year’s US Open, where he put up a real fight against Rafa Nadal before falling to an agonising fifth-set defeat.
The 6ft 6in baseliner has finessed some of the weaker technical elements of his game since that final and looks a likely candidate to last the fortnight at Flushing Meadows.
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS
With none of his fellow challengers managing to dismantle Djok in recent times, could the giant Greek seize his moment to become the youngest Slam winner since Juan Martin del Potro in 2009?
The Athenian certainly doesn’t lack in confidence, but his Grand Slam form has been somewhat erratic to date, crashing out here in the first round in 2019 before going on to claim a shock ATP Finals win in London later in the season. A narrow 3-2 deficit in his head-to-head record with World No.1 Djokovic suggests he could stand every chance should these two square off in the latter stages of the competition.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV
The 23-year-old German hope has long been tipped as a future Grand Slam finalist. Now, with a clearer path to negotiate to reach this year’s final, will ‘Sascha’ be turning all his early potential into genuine top-tier pedigree by lifting his maiden Grand Slam title?
The Covid-19 pandemic came at a frustrating time for Zverev, who made a flying start to his 2020 campaign in reaching a first ever Slam semi-final in Melbourne at the turn of the year.
ANDY MURRAY
He couldn’t, could he?
Britain’s greatest ever player looked firmly on course for a long and happy retirement this time last year, but a successful knee operation has seen Murray rediscover his enthusiasm for competition, and the 33-year-old would surely love nothing more than proving to his doubters there’s still at least a little life left in this old stager yet.
He knocked out Alexander Zverev at the recent Western & Southern Open. That was a first win against a top-10 player in three years. His ongoing injury issues are reflected in his 50/1 price in the US Open outright market. However, Murray remains a clear and present danger should any seeded players be unlucky to meet him in the opening rounds.
US Open Women’s Singles Betting
SERENA WILLIAMS
Serena is so, so close.
However, the closer the 38-year-old moves to equalling Margaret Court’s Grand Slam record (24), the more elusive it seems to become for the greatest women’s player of the modern era. It’s not for want of trying, with Serena losing all four of her last Grand Slam final appearances since 2018.
That includes two final outings at the US Open, where youth ultimately triumphed experience on both occasions as Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu tasted maiden Slam success.
Andreescu won’t be around to defend her title and Osaka is struggling for form – but could another surprise challenger stop Serena from making history at Flushing Meadows?
She starts out as a worthy 3/1 favourite to be the 2020 US Open winner.
NAOMI OSAKA
After back-to-back Slam wins in 2018 and 2019 in the Australian Open and US Open, Osaka has struggled to cope with the pressure of top billing.
In some ways, it may be some relief to the 22-year-old that she has slipped to No. 10 in the world rankings heading into this tournament as she looks to claw her way back into Slam contention.
Osaka hasn’t progressed past the fourth round in any major tournament outing since her Australian Open win. A promising return to action at the Western & Southern Open – prior to pulling out the tournament to support the BLM movement – suggests better times could lie ahead after a frustrating 18 months.
SOFIA KENIN
Kenin’s rapid rise through the ranks in 2019 was rewarded with the WTA Most Improved Player of the Year award at the end of last season.
That prize looked prescient, as the 21-year-old American shocked top seed Ashleigh Barty in straight sets to claim her first ever Grand Slam title in the 2020 Australian Open. Kenin’s form can still occasionally be erratic – slipping out of both the Dubai Tennis Championships and Qatar Open at the first hurdle earlier this season.
A win in the Lyon Open in March suggests she remains a severe threat on her A game, and few rivals will fancy facing her aggressive style here.
KAROLÍNA PLÍŠKOVÁ
If any player deserves to be rewarded for consistency on the circuit, it’s the desperately unlucky Karolína Plíšková. The Czech star has one final, two semi-final, and four quarter-finals appearances to her name since 2016, with that final defeat coming in the US Open in 2016.
A low-key exit in the second round of the Western & Southern Open to World No. 28 Veronika Kudermetova to warm-up for this tournament gives cause for concern, however.
COCO GAUFF
Tipped to be tennis’ next Grand Slam superstar, it really would be a story if Coco Gauff could land a first Grand Slam at the age of just 16 years old. A gutsy run to the fourth round in the Australian Open earlier this year suggests it’s not a complete long shot.
Victory at Flushing Meadows wouldn’t quite make her the youngest ever Slam winner – that belongs to 15-year old Lottie Dod at Wimbledon way back in 1887 – but it would still be the sporting story of the year in a year lacking in inspirational sporting storylines.
PETRA KVITOVÁ
One of the wiliest contenders in women’s tennis having arrived on the circuit in 2008, it’s hard to believe the tenacious Czech star is still only 30 years old.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitová has won admirers from all corners after her remarkable comeback efforts following the home robbery that almost curtailed her career. However, she’s never allowed that incident to overshadow a successful second act to her time on the WTA Tour that includes final and quarter-final appearances at the Australian Open in 2019 and 2020. That type of form at the highest level suggests she’s still firmly in the mix to reach a fourth career slam final.
SLOANE STEPHENS
At 40/1, Sloane could provide the long-odds value in this tournament. As a former US Open winner, Stephens surely merits respect if she can keep herself in contention heading into the final week of the tournament.
In truth, the Florida-born star has never quite scaled the same heights since her 2017 career high, but that victory came somewhat out of the blue after a largely fruitless three years of Gram Slam performances. At 27, she should be approaching the peak of her powers. Stephens will be hoping the somewhat unusual build-up to this year’s tournament helps her cause as she looks to mount another career comeback.
See here for Tennis Predictions.
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