Serena Williams is the clear and deserving favourite in New York
© PA Photos
Enlarge
With Kim Clijsters out injured, Justine Henin long-retired, Venus Williams on the wane and the new guns lacking punch, the women's event at the US Open is all about one woman: Serena Williams.
Click here to bet on the US Open at bet365
Now that's not to say that Serena is an absolute shoo-in for the title. She only returned from a year out at Wimbledon this summer and is probably not yet at 100 percent full match fitness. However, in winning two tournaments on the north American hard courts in the run-up to the Open she has already shown that without Clijsters around, she is undoubtedly the woman to beat.
There is a pretty good argument to say that she is the best player in the world even when Clijsters is around, of course. This is a woman who has won 13 grand slam titles, who has ruled the sport, off and on, for a decade and whose mental strength matches her incredible power and outstanding athleticism.
Betting bullets
- Serena Williams to win US Open - 11/8 bet365
- Maria Sharapova to win US Open - E/W 5/1 bet365
- Marion Bartoli to win US Open - E/W 45/1 bet365
She also has a point to prove., her last appearance in New York coming two years ago when she threatened to shove a ball down a lineswoman's throat after she was foot-faulted, and the resultant point penalty saw he beaten by Clijsters in a pulsating semi-final.
The toe injury - a hangover from her blood clot that formed after the foot injury that took her out for a year - is a concern after she pulled out of the Cincinnati event.. But she looked fine in practice in New York and if she is healthy, I just don't see her losing when it really matters. Though she could play fourth seed Victoria Azarenka in round three, the Belarussian is rumoured to be struggling with an injury and bet365's offer of 11/8 is generous and has to be snapped up.
Chasing pack all with questions to answer
It is a mark of the gap between Serena that the bookies' second favourite, Maria Sharapova, is a whopping 5/1 to win the title, while the woman she lost to in the Wimbledon final, Petra Kvitova, is a massive 11/1 and world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki is
Sharapova has been in excellent form this year, reaching the semi-finals at the French Open as well as her superb run to the Wimbledon final. It was a surprise that she lost to Kvitova that day but she has the mental strength to go close again in New York.
In the opposite half to Serena, she has an obvious chance to go all the way to the final and though her serve remains an inconsistent work in progress, she fights like almost no other player out there and winning in Cincinnati last week will have done her the power of good.
Behind her, Kvitova has been suffering an understandable hangover after her stunning Wimbledon win and looks vulnerable here. The Czech has a great game and will like the speed of the courts but dealing with a grand slam win at a young age is not easy and it may take her a couple of months to get back to normal.
The consistent Vera Zvonareva - the No 2 seed - is bound to scrap her way as far as she can but I sense her confidence is not quite where it was this time last year, when she made her second straight grand slam final. Li Na has also been struggling a little since her French Open win but she is a big stage player these days and it wouldn't surprise me to see her go well.
There has been a little money for Wozniacki in recent days as the Dane has shown a welcome return to form in the warm-up event in New Haven. Her relationship with US Open golf winner Rory McIlroy has captured much of the attention but she is at her best on hard courts and perhaps coming in under the radar will help her. Unfortunately, though, she is in Serena Williams' half of the draw and that means trouble later on.
Of the outsiders, I give half a chance to Marion Bartoli, who reached the semi-finals of the French Open and pushed Serena in the final in Stanford earlier this summer. The Frenchwoman loves the big occasion, takes the ball early and rushes her opponents, so if she is confident, she will make some waves. At 45/1, with half the odds for reaching the final, she is the best each-way bet.
In the end, though, it comes down to the top two and though it might seem a bit lazy to back the two market leaders, there really is no option in terms of form and experience. Serena has a phenomenal record against Sharapova so if the two meet in the final, there ought only to be one winner, but both could easily win it.
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondent
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Simon Cambers
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant
