US Open: Andy Murray and Kyle Edmund lead British charge
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It’s the final Slam of 2016, but Britain are looking to go out with a bang after another year of thrills and spills criss-crossing the world’s tennis courts.
Andy Murray is Wimbledon and Olympic champion once again, while Kyle Edmund and Aljaz Bedene have each had their moment in the spotlight.
Johanna Konta has enjoyed easily the best year of her career, and Laura Robson is also showing signs of making a long-awaited return to form and fitness.
So, here’s the low-down on where each Brit is at in the US Open…
Andy Murray
The Scot is second favourite to win the tournament at 13/8, and kicks off his campaign versus Lukas Rosol.
Murray is a stunning 35-2 since Rome in April, and has won both of his previous meetings with Rosol, but did lose the first set on each occasion.
Kyle Edmund
Edmund was one of the stars of round one, as he put Richard Gasquet aside comfortably in three sets.
Next up for the 21-year-old is wildcard entrant Ernesto Escobedo and at 3/10 the bookies are fancying Edmund to bag a first spot in the third round of a Slam.
Dan Evans
Birmingham man Evans has been handed an excellent chance to make round two, with the 26-year-old up against journeyman wildcard Rajeev Ram.
The 32-year-old Ram has never gone beyond the second round of a Slam, and Evans is 1/2 favourite to extend his stay at Queens.
Aljaz Bedene
While Evans has a very winnable first round contest, Aljaz Bedene will need to channel some of Kyle Edmund’s success.
That’s because Bedene is up against Nick Kyrgios. At 7/1 the Brit is very much the outsider, but his hot-headed Australian opponent is often his own worst enemy.
Women’s Draw
Heather Watson
Success at Monterrey and in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon have been the highlights of an otherwise difficult year for Heather Watson.
The 24-year-old has never gone beyond the first round at Flushing Meadows, but has an excellent chance this year, when she takes Dutch qualifier Richel Hogenkamp as 2/5 favourite.
Naomi Broady
After reaching the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open in February, Naomi Broady hasn’t reached the third round of any singles event.
The 26-year-old faces compatriot Laura Robson in round one, and the pair have never met before.
Laura Robson
As she continues her return from injury, Laura Robson is beginning to show signs of that ability which took her to the fourth round in 2012 thanks to eight wins on the spin.
Robson comes to Queens as a late wildcard call-up, but after winning the ITF title in Pennsylvania recently, has momentum and history at the US Open to support the bookies 4/7 favourite odds of beating Broady in round one.
Johanna Konta
Konta swept Bethany Mattek-Sands aside 6-3 6-3 in round one, and will face unseeded Tsvetana Pironkova.
The Brit’s excellent year means she’s seeded 13th at Flushing Meadows, and at 2/7 she’s well fancied ease past the 2010 Wimbledon semi-finalist in the second round.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the time of publishing.
