US Open Betting

Tennis’ traditions matter not a jot in New York. And betting on the US Open provides customers with great value as form and friendship goes out of the window in the bear pit atmosphere of Flushing Meadow.

Remember Juan Martin del Potro? Not many do, but he was the tall kid from Argentina who stunned the world and Roger Federer in particular with an incredible victory in the 2009 final.

Predictions of who will emerge victorious in 2010 offer great value to those interested in US Open betting.

Tennis betting can on occasion resemble Federer or Rafael Nadal versus the rest, but not in New York when the sun shines and the locals get the whiff of an upset in their nostrils.

The hard courts offer no respite, no solace to those not at the very top of their games. Take advantage of the free bets on offer from online bookmakers and remember there really is no place like the Big Apple.

Not convinced? Think back to the women’s competition of last year which offered fantastic value to those who enjoy a US Open bet – especially the free bet on offer from many an online bookmaker.

In just her third tournament since her return to the tour after more than two years away from the sport, a break which included getting married and having a daughter, Kim Clijsters won the 2009 championship defeating the previously unheralded Caroline Wozniaki in a final which offered great value in the US Open betting markets.

It’s that kind of town, that kind of tournament and as one online bookmaker observed: “This is betting US Open-style. New York conjures up an atmosphere and results like nowhere else. UK customers looking for value from their US Open bet have to remember while the crowd loves their home town favourites, it is a place which loves the underdog, which offers great value, especially with the number of free bets on offer via the internet.”

New York has set the tone for many of the developments in the game. The Open era began in 1968 when professionals were allowed to enter, and two years later in 1970 the US Open became the first grand slam event to use tie breaks at the end of a set, and remains the only one to use tie breakers in the deciding set.

As the tournament evolved, it switched from grass, to clay and finally to its current DecoTurf surface in 1978. Thirty-odd years ago, however, US Open betting was still in its infancy.

The great American player Jimmy Connors is the only player to have won the US Open on all three surfaces while Chris Evert is the only woman to have won on two surfaces.

That’s your history, but customers looking for tennis betting value would do well to remember this is one of two grand slam events where Britain’s best and only hope Andy Murray has reached the final.

Greg Rusedski also reached the final in the 1990s before losing out to Australian Pat Rafter, so those who like a patriotic punt may feel that betting on the US Open offers the chance to follow the head as well as the heart.

The power and poise of the Williams sisters Venus and Serena means the brave punter / predictor may be tempted to consider their US Open betting strategy by backing an American winner, but with more than one online bookmaker offering great value in all markets, perhaps a look outside the men’s and women’s tournaments could offer better value.

For example, we can expect Californian twins Bob and Mike Bryan to be at the top of the pile when it comes to US Open betting markets, although we should not jump to hasty conclusions.

Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes won the men’s doubles tournament in 2009. Who? Worth a free bet? How about the Williams sisters to repeat their women’s doubles success of last year?

Andy Roddick remains the great American hope. But there is value to be found by those seeking alternatives to the traditional internet bookmakers’ favourites Nadal and Federer when it comes to tennis betting.

Before the Fed Express’ run of five successive championship wins was brought to an end by Del Potro last year, a bet on the US Open had offered hope and variety, with the likes of Roddick, Pete Sampras, Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin taking the title in the men’s championship.

Likewise in the women’s tournament, since the early 1990s where Monica Seles and Steffi Graf dominated wins (and US Open bets), the likes of Serena and Venus Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Maria Sharapova have provided outstanding value for those who enjoy betting on US Open successes for the ladies.

UK customers will always hanker after an Andy Murray victory. But successful betting on the US Open has always been about expecting the unexpected.

So be mindful, the next time you see those internet banners proclaiming “Bet on US Open”. Yes, there’s exceptional value to be had, but the siren-sounding ‘bet on US Open’ invitations should be handled with care.