The Sports Bookie Blog

Tennis Betting: The US Open – Is it Nadal all the way?

August 23rd, 2008

US Open: Will Nadal Get Lost In The Meadows?

Here’s what the team at Bodog Sport thinks about the Spaniard and his opposition as the tournament gets underway.   

The final tennis Major of the year is upon us, where Spain’s Rafael Nadal will start as Bodog’s outright favourite. It’s been some year for the Mallorcan; he’s won all over the shop in 2008 – most notably of course the French Open, Wimbledon and most recently Olympic Gold in Beijing.

There is no doubt that Nadal is the likely winner but he’s a very short price and with question marks over the form of Roger Federer and the mercurial Novak Djokovic so difficult to predict, we feel that there are some juicy outsiders to be had lower down the list.

We are, after all, in a spell of some decent tennis tipping form with followers of this column counting a healthy profit after we tipped Nadal’s Beijing final opponent Fernando Gonzalez each-way at an eye-watering 66/1.

That said, with class players like Nadal, Federer and Djokovic around it’s always going be difficult to find a likely large-priced candidate to come through, but don’t completely rule out the chances of Marat Safin at Flushing Meadows.

When the Muscovite party animal won this event eight years ago he was destined for greatness. Despite some classy results – in particular the Australian Open title in 2005 – it has never really happened for big Marat.

At 28, time is running out, but at Wimbledon Safin showed us when he genuinely puts his mind to it he can still be a force to be reckoned with. He made a sterling run to the semis, eventually losing to Federer in straight sets, although he spurned some great opportunities to claim the second set in that match on a tie break.

Safin has not done much since SW19 but over the best-of-five set format – the hallmark of all Major events – he must still be respected, especially at the venue he holds dearest to his heart. Have a tickle at his colossal price.

Now rated number six in the world rankings many will look to Andy Murray to build on what has been a fine season. His feisty nature is something the rowdy New Yorkers warm to and if he gets on a roll he is capable of doing some real damage.

His best effort so far was reaching the 4th round in 2006, but he arrives in the Big Apple a much better player and will be in confident mood having won the Cincinnati Masters at the start of August.

Murray bombed out in the Olympics but we’re prepared to overlook that effort given his progressive form this season.

Finally, have a close look at Argentine David Nalbandian. The hard hitting baseliner from Cordoba won the junior US open title as a youth and has a liking for the fast, high bouncing Flushing Meadows courts. He is capable of beating anyone on his day, having thrashed both Nadal and Federer on hard courts in the past 12 months.

Bet on the US Open at Bodog Sports.

Here’s a snapshot of today’s best odds on the outright winner of the Men’s US Open – for live tennis odds check out BookieLabRat.com.

Rafael Nadal 2.50  at Betsson
Roger Federer 4.33  at BetFred
Novak Djokovic 4.51  at PinnacleSports
Andy Murray 15.15  at PinnacleSports
Juan Martin Del Potro 46.00  at BoyleSports
Mario Ancic 75.00  at Betsson
Andy Roddick 81.00  at Canbet
Lleyton Hewitt 100.00  at Betsson 

Entry Filed under: General Banter,Sports Betting