Most of the sports betting attention is being paid to NFL betting and the upcoming UFC 102 fight card but since we’re looking ahead, we may as well take a look at the fourth and final grand slam of the tennis season: the U.S. Open.
Once again, all eyes will be on Roger Federer to win the tournament and for the most part, it’s hard to argue with him. His odds are as low as +180, which seems like a ridiculously low price to win a tennis tournament, but don’t forget who we are talking about here. Federer is the No. 1 player in the world and has been – for the most part – over the last five years. During that time, he’s won a record five consecutive US Opens. On top of that, he’s won two of the first three Grand Slams this year and his one loss was in the Australian Open finals.
Obviously, he’ll be among everyone’s sports picks but the reason to bet him isn’t just that he’s that good, but also that there is no one else to give him a run.
Andy Murray tried to do exactly that at the US Open last year but he got crushed in the finals by Federer. Federer won in straight sets and Murray only won nine games overall. Murray also blew his best chance to win Wimbledon (to this point) as he was upset in the semifinals by Andy Roddick.
Rafael Nadal is typically the biggest competitor to Federer but he’s had some knee problems recently. His knee injury led to him being upset at the French Open and then he had to pull out of Wimbledon completely. He’s back on the Tour now but Nadal had a disappointing out at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, which isn’t encouraging any bettors. Furthermore, he won’t be among many sports picks since the hard courts at Flushing Meadows won’t be kind to his knees.
That leaves a few outside competitors like Andy Roddick, who had a great showing at Wimbledon but has left everyone skeptical since, or Novak Djokovic, who continually disappoints in Grand Slams.
Federer is the best in the world and to stop him, someone will have to perform above and beyond the call of duty. At this point, it doesn’t look like there is anyone capable of that.
