US Open, Flushing Meadows, New York
31st August – 13th September 2020
In a remarkable year for tennis, the second Grand Slam of the year gets underway at Flushing Meadows in New York. The impact of the COVID 19 pandemic has been felt within the draw at the US Open, with many of the biggest names in the world absent in 2020. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the two headline names to miss out in the men’s draw whilst Simona Halep, Ashleigh Barty and Bianca Andreescu aren’t appearing in New York this year.
Despite the big-name absentees, there is still a very strong field assembled in both the male and female draws and it is a real opportunity for some fringe players on both the ATP & WTA Tours to make a name for themselves. With no fans in attendance at Flushing Meadows, the atmosphere of the event will be very different but with over $50 million within the prize pot for the US Open – there is plenty to play for.
US Open Tournament Preview – Women’s
Outright Winner Odds
Serena Williams – 4.50 – Seven-time US Open champion Serena Williams is still chasing her elusive 24th Grand Slam title. She demonstrated good form in patches at the Western & Southern Open before bowing out to Maria Sakkari and she will be hoping to piece a winning run together this week.
Naomi Osaka – 5.00 – 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka continues to perform consistently on the WTA Tour as she heads up the next generation of player. Her form since her Australian Open win in 2019 has been inconsistent but she plays her best tennis on hard courts and could go well this week in New York.
Karolina Pliskova – 10.00 – Karolina Pliskova has become a beacon of consistency on the WTA Tour in recent seasons – without perhaps picking up as many major trophies as she should. The world number 3 reached the US Open final in 2016 and she will be eager to go one better here.
Sofia Kenin – 12.00 – Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin will be looking to add to her Grand Slam tally in her home major. She has been struggling for consistency since her historic win in Melbourne, but she always looks most comfortable when playing hard court tennis.
Elise Mertens – 21.00 – Belgian Elise Mertens looks to be in the form of her life having reached the last 4 of the Western & Southern Open. At the age of 24, this looks to be her time to breakthrough on the WTA Tour and her run to the last 8 in New York last year should give her confidence.
Top Pick – Naomi Osaka – 5.00
Outside Pick – Elise Mertens – 21.00
ATP US Open Tournament Preview
Outright Winner Odds
Novak Djokovic – 1.00 – Current world number one Novak Djokovic will be looking to find some of his pre-lockdown form. The Serb won well at the Australian Open at the start of the year and is the biggest name in the draw. He also looked in good nick at the Western & Southern Open and he will be the man to beat as always here.
Daniil Medvedev – 6.00 – 2019 US Open runner up Daniil Medvedev has struggled for form in 2020 but he should arrive in New York fresh and with plenty of rankings points to defend. He has lacked consistency of late but he plays his best tennis on hard courts and could be one to watch.
Stefanos Tsitsipas – 8.00 – ATP World Tour Finals Champion Stefanos Tsitsipas heads up the next generation of players on the tour and he could be one to watch in a congested draw here. He has reached the last 8 of the Western & Southern Open in the build up to the US Open and looks in good form.
Dominic Thiem – 10.00 – Austrian Dominic Thiem reached the Australian Open final earlier this year and looks to be banging on the door the top 3 above him in the world rankings. His hard-court game has improved dramatically over the past 12 months, although he looked a little uninspired at the Western & Southern Open last week.
Milos Raonic – 22.00 – Big serving Canadian Milos Raonic is always such a threat on hard courts. His performances at the Western & Southern Open (in New York last week) suggest he is in excellent form and if he is confident, he can be a very difficult man to stop.
Top Pick – Novak Djokovic – 1.00
Outside Pick – Milos Raonic – 22.00
