US Open Tennis Preview
Remember back in 2004 when young Maria Sharapova lined up against favourite Serena Williams in the Wimbledon Final? Remember how the young Russian upstart dethroned Williams who, at the time, was on the hunt for her third straight title at SW19?
Well, that is just one of a series of fascinating duels between Williams and Sharapova. Now we are about to get a new chapter written in the first round of the US Open 2019.
Serena Williams v Maria Sharapova Odds*
Serena Williams 1/3
Maria Sharapova 12/5
* (betting odds taken from August 23rd, 2019 at 3:28 pm)
Who will win first round headlining act?
This is going to be the big feature of the first round action from Flushing Meadows. Serena Williams is the favourite to win this next duel with Sharapova. It’s hard in a way not to argue that because the head to head is lopsided in her favour. Williams holds a W19 L2 record against Sharapova.
So pretty dominant then. Williams returns to Flushing Meadows following the spectacle she made in the 2018 Final. She was riled up, calling the umpire a “thief” and accusing him of being sexist. Williams had a court violation and a penalty thrown her way and that, of course, didn’t calm down the situation.
Williams lost the final to Naomi Osaka, the young Japanese player upset and crying during her special moment of celebration because of what was going on.
Can Williams overcome difficult year?
So Williams is going to have to block out those memories. The crowd’s reception of Williams, a home favourite of course, will be interesting. Williams has been struggling with physical issues this season.
She withdrew from the final of the Rogers Cup recently and then had to miss Cincinnati because of back problems. It was knee problems hampering her earlier in the year. Is she going to be able to hold it together physically?
Will Sharapova’s shake of struggles?
But then you have Sharapova who picked up a shoulder injury earlier this year and has played six matches since January. So she’s not turning up with any kind of match sharpness behind her, which makes for another intriguing aspect in this blockbuster match up.
This will be their first meeting since the 2018 French Open when Sharapova claimed her second career win over Williams. Sharapova is a former US Open winner, claiming the crown in 2006. She has only made it back to the semifinals once since then.
Predictions
The head to head speaks for itself. There are serious questions over the health and fitness of both of them. So it could be a below-par slog, but it has to be Williams who is backed to get through.
Even though she had to retire in Canada at the Rogers Cup, she did still reach the final there so things were good up until that point. We’ll back her power to take her to 2-0 in set betting at 5/6 odds* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on August 23rd, 2019 at 11:29 pm)
