Promising draw gives Kerber big chance at US Open

Angelique Kerber took a major stride forward when reaching the semi finals of the US Open last year and 20/1 seems a big price that she celebrates a maiden Grand Slam success in the tournament in 2012.

The US Open was the scene of another first-time Grand Slam winner 12 months ago when Sam Stosur upset Serena Williams in the final and Kerber looks best equipped to follow suit this year.

Massively in Kerber’s favour is that she is in the bottom half of the draw, with the majority of the big guns all in the upper section.

Therefore, she cannot play world number one Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova or recent Cincinnati Masters final conqueror Na Li until the final at Flushing Meadow.

Kerber does have Serena Williams in her half, but she was responsible for ending the Wimbledon champion’s 19-match unbeaten run en route to the Cincinnati final.

Also in her quarter of the draw is number two seed Agnieszka Radwanska, but there are serious doubts over the fitness of the Pole, after she was forced to withdraw during her first match in New Haven with a shoulder injury.

The shoulder was heavily strapped before play against Olga Govertsova, but it is a worry that she dropped the opening set 6-0 and won just one game in the second before pulling out.

Another interesting fact is that Kerber will begin her US Open quest against Anne Keothavong and she beat the Brit in the early rounds of the Sony Ericsson Open earlier this year, which was a tournament she went on to win.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.