US Open draw opening up for Murray after Federer exit

Andy Murray was widely considered to have suffered the most unfortunate draw ahead of the US Open, but things are suddenly looking ever so rosy.

Murray is now just 2/1 to win the US Open, partly after his rousing comeback from the dead to beat Marin Cilic, while potential semi-final opponent and world number one Roger Federer was being eliminated.

Federer had never previously been beaten under the lights of Flushing Meadow in 23 attempts, but was eliminated in four sets by Berdych, who has developed a knack of winning their biggest meetings.

Berdych also beat Federer at the 2004 Olympic Games and then at Wimbledon in 2010.

Federer’s exit adds to that of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was expected to pose a big threat to Murray in his quarter of the draw before suffering a surprise exit.

From what looked likely to be a monstrous last week of Tsonga, Federer and then Novak Djokovic in a probable final, Murray has now faced Cilic in the quarters and now can prepare for Berdych.

If things continue in the current manner, there is a fair chance that 4/5 US Open favourite Djokovic will exit before facing Murray too.

Djokovic faces Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter finals, who beat him to the bronze medal at the Olympics, while it will be fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic or Spain’s David Ferrer that will wait in the semi finals.

Obviously, Murray still has to defeat Berdych and this is no banker by any means, given that the Czech world number seven has triumphed in four of their six career meetings.

With the confidence of beating Federer, he may still represent value at 8/1 in the US Open betting to win the tournament, even if this is his first appearance in the quarter finals of this Grand Slam.

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