US Open preview

The final chance to shine

Jo Carter August 27, 2010

Looking at the contenders for the US Open

The Men

The top seed
Roger Federer was 27 when he won the French Open and completed his career Grand Slam. At the tender age of 24 Rafael Nadal could well and truly seal his place in the history books with a win at Flushing Meadows - becoming just the seventh man to complete a career Grand Slam. Nadal has never made it past the semi-finals in New York, and his recent form suggests that he isn't entirely comfortable on the hard surface. But the world No. 1 has had an incredible year, and a third Grand Slam title this year - and that old Greatest Player of all Time debate might just resurface. 3/1

Roger Federe has won five titles in six years at Flushing Meadows © Getty Images

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The favourite
Until last week Roger Federer had not won a title since January, but his victory in Cincinnati has seen him return as favourite. With five titles in New York Federer is currently joint level with Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors, but victory at Flushing Meadows would make Federer the most successful player in the Open era. While he is nowhere near the level that saw him win dominate this event between 2004 and 2008, his record speaks for itself - just five defeats in 56 matches. 7/4

The one to beat
Andy Murray has made no secret of his desperation to win a Grand Slam, and many in the know believe it is only a case of when, rather than if, the British No. 1 achieves the feat. Flushing Meadows was the scene of Murray's first Grand Slam final back in 2008, and on his favourite surface, he is playing with the renewed confidence that saw reach the final in Melbourne in January. Murray was seeded second heading into last year's contest and, on what his his favourite surface, will be looking to put the disappointment of his fourth-round exit to Marin Cilic behind him. The way he has been playing in recent weeks, a solid each-way bet. 7/2

A real contender? Despite being ranked as high as world No. 2 just a couple of weeks ago, nobody seems to be talking about Novak Djokovic's chances. While the heat in New York may cause problems with his breathing, Djokovic is capable of beating anybody on his day. He faces a tricky route to the final, with a potential fourth-round opponent in Marcos Baghdatis or Mardy Fish, and either Nikolay Davydenko or Andy Roddick awaiting in the quarter finals. Should he make it through that minefield, he would most likely meet the 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer in the semis. Given the draw and his recent results, the world No. 3 will do well to make it past the quarter-finals. 14/1

The dark horse
Another player who has got two Grand Slam finals under his belt, Robin Soderling will be looking to kick on and win one. He has beaten both Federer and Nadal in Grand Slam tournaments, albeit on clay, but is well-suited to the hard courts and will be looking to cause an upset if he should encounter Federer in the fourth round. 16/1

Mardy Fish has nearly doubled the contents of his trophy cabinet this season

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Against the odds
Before this year Mardy Fish had never won two titles in a year, let alone back-to-back titles, but the new slimline Fish is playing out of his skin and has beaten Murray three times in 2010. In a remarkable turnaround, the American has catapulted himself back into the world's top 50 and is a seed at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2004. Unlikely to make it beyond the quarter-finals, but could cause a few upsets on the way. 40/1

Return from injury
Hip surgery sidelined former world No. 3 David Nalbandian for nine months, and he plummeted to outside the world's top 150, but a recent return to form has seen him sneak into the seedings at the US Open - good news for him, and good news for the other big names who will avoid him until the third round. Nalbandian dropped just one set en route to victory in Washington, and after crushing Marin Cilic 6-2 6-2, he has the ability to cause an upset in New York. 20/1

Looking to go one better
Less than three months ago Tomas Berdych had only reached a Grand Slam quarter-final once. But after sending Murray packing on the clay at Roland Garros to reach the French Open semi-finals, he was at it again a month later at Wimbledon, before eventually falling to Nadal in the final. While Berdych has not exactly set the hard-court season alight in recent weeks, he was always likely to suffer hangover after Wimbledon. A man with an all-round game, he reached the final in Miami earlier in the year and is capable of beating anyone on his day. 20/1

An outside bet
With victories in Brisbane and Miami, it looked like it might be Andy Roddick's year. After storming to the title in 2003 he was hailed as the successor to Pete Sampras, but since that triumph as a 21-year-old, Roddick has never managed to add another Grand Slam trophy to his cabinet. But injuries and mystery illnesses have caught up with Roddick this season and, after a disappointing showing at Wimbledon, he will look to finish the season with a bang. Despite potential clashes against Nikolay Davydenko and Djokovic, Roddick could be a surprise semi-finalist. 16/1

The Women

Caroline Wozniacki has won three titles this year

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The top seed
Last year's beaten finalist Caroline Wozniacki has been in stunning form, winning two titles in the last three tournaments. With world No. 1 Serena Williams out with a foot injury, the Dane really has a chance to claim her first Grand Slam - but it won't be easy. Arguably in the toughest quarter of the draw, Wozniacki must negotiate her way past two former champions in the shape of Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova. 8/1

The favourite
Kim Clijsters capped a fairytale comeback when she beat Wozniacki in the final last year to become the first mother to win a Grand Slam since Evonne Goolagong in 1980. She has claimed three more titles this year, including a impressive comeback in Cincinnati to beat Sharapova. Clijsters is a popular player with the American crowds and with a relatively easy route to the quarter-finals, could claim a third title at Flushing Meadows. 10/3

The one to beat
After winning Wimbledon as a 17-year-old in 2004, Maria Sharapova has won a Grand Slam every alternate year - perfect symmetry. The US Open followed in 2006 and the Australian in 2008. While the ultimate pattern would have been to have won the French Open this year, if she is to continue the cycle she would need to win in Flushing Meadows. After an indifferent start to the season, the Russian is on red-hot form and could be a dangerous opponent for top seed Wozniacki in the fourth round. 4/1

A real contender?
History shows that you can never write off the Williams sisters, and lack of match practice rarely seems to be an issue for the pair, but it remains to be seen if Venus Williams is fully fit. The two-time champion has not played since Wimbledon after dislocating her left knee cap. Although she has been beaten by her sister six times in her seven Grand Slam final defeats, Venus has never won a Grand Slam when her sister has been absent. If she makes it through to the second week, she could come a cropper against Victoria Azarenka. 12/1

Against the odds
Melanie Oudin became an overnight sensation at the US Open last year, enjoying a spectacular giant-killing run that eventually came to an end in the quarter-finals. After a stunning victory over fourth seed Elena Dementieva in the second round, Oudin was at it again in the third round, sending former champion Sharapova crashing out. For the third match in a row, she came from a set down to beat Nadia Petrova in three to become the youngest American to play in the quarter-finals since Serena Williams in 1999. Wozniacki proved a step too far, but her marathon effort catapulted her into the spotlight. Expectations will be higher this year, but can she repeat a similar feat? 500/1

Return from injury
A surprise finalist at Roland Garros, Sam Stosur looked to be on a roll after a breakthrough season that saw her break into the top ten for the first time. But a surprise defeat to eventual semi-finalist Kaia Kanepi in the first round at Wimbledon ruptured her confidence, and a mystery arm injury saw her pull out of Cincinnati. A strong performance at Flushing Meadows would cap off an impressive year for the Australian, but lack of match practice could hamper her progress. 50/1

Elena Dementieva could cause an upset at Flushing Meadows © Getty Images

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Lucky No. 13?
If ever there was a year that Elena Dementieva looked at the draw and saw her opportunity, this could be it. After nine Grand Slam semi-finals the 2004 finalist could have her chance for glory at the 13th attempt at Flushing Meadows. With a number of the big names conspicuous by their absence, and potential fourth round opponent Stosur still on the comeback trail from injury, Dementieva has a genuine chance to make her mark this year. While questions remain about her mental stamina, if she can navigate her way into the second week she could have an outside chance. 22/1

Looking to go one better
A heartbreaking weekend at Wimbledon - losing two finals in one day - may have taken the shine off Vera Zvonareva's magnificent performance at the All England Club - with wins over Jelena Jankovic and Kim Clijsters. The inevitable hangover from such disappointment seems to be over, and a final appearance in Montreal suggests the world No. 8 is back on track. With Agnieszka Radwanska potentially awaiting in the fourth round, and Jankovic in the quarters, another Grand Slam semi-final could be on the cards. 16/1

An outside bet
Ana Ivanovic's sad demise from world No. 1 to a player unable to string two victories together has been well documented. Inconsistency has been the bane of Ivanovic's year, and just when it looked like she had got herself together, it all fell apart at the seams. A semi-final appearance in Brisbane was followed by a run of two wins in eight matches - then another semi in Rome before just three wins in nine matches. Ivanovic got another run together to reach the Cincinnati semis, but didn't play in Montreal. It's hard to say whether Cincinnati was just another fluke, but let's hope the 2008 French Open champion, who has never made it past the fourth round, enjoys a run of form in New York. 33/1

Odds, courtesy of Stan James, correct at time of publication. Click here to open an account and receive a £25 free bet

Jo Carter