Tough to see past legendary Williams in upcoming US Open
Serena Williams will enter the US Open as heavy 6/5 favourite later this month, but in light of her recent form, this price still appeals.
The 30-year-old looks in prime shape, and followed up a fifth career Wimbledon title with a gold medal at the same venue in this summer’s Olympic Games.
That triumph meant she completed a career Golden Grand Slam, and became the first ever player to achieve this feat in both singles and doubles competition.
But it was her displays in the latter stages of last month’s Wimbledon tournament that will ultimately strike fear into any prospective Williams opponents at Flushing Meadows.
Once again in peak physical condition, the powerful American was back to her imperious best at SW19, squatting top-calibre opponents with seeming minimal ease.
Her serve was demonstrative, and there would appear to be few women capable of stopping Williams claiming a fourth US Open title judging by this form.
Current world number one Victoria Azarenka is thought to have the best chance of doing so, and as such is afforded a 9/2 price to triumph on American soil.
However, it should be noticed that she fell victim to Williams’ superiority during the London 2012 semi-final, and punters should remember her straight sets defeat there before backing her here.
Maria Sharapova comes next in the betting at 11/2, and some punters may side with the Russian, who ended a four-year Grand Slam drought via French Open success in June.
Sharapova was crowned US Open winner back in 2006, but punters should again be wary of her emphatic Olympic final defeat to Williams, during which she won only one game.
Meanwhile, newly-ranked world number two Agnieszka Radwanska is a 16/1 hope to claim a maiden Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.
The 23-year-old reached this year’s Wimbledon final, where she eventually succumbed to defeat to Williams, but a repeat of that final could reward each-way backers of the Pole.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
