After crashing out of Wimbledon in the Semi Finals against Andy Roddick, Andy Murray has been performing well on the hard courts and after an impressive display in Cincinnati, beating the up and coming Del Potro in the final, he has overtaken Rafael Nadal to No. 2 in the world rankings.

Murray however, is 10/3 second favourite to win the tournament behind a very short priced Federer, who is 11/10 with most bookmakers. Both of these prices seem pretty short and it seems there may be better value backing some of the outsiders each way. There is value to be had in Nadal who is priced at 8/1, but concerns linger over whether his knee can last the seven matches on the unforgiving courts at Flushing Meadows.

Guccione looks like a banker in his first round match against Cuevas, the Argentinean clay-courter. After a faltering start to the year Guccione has found some form with a win at the Aptos challenger in California, followed by an impressive win over Joe-Wilfried Tsonga at Cincinnati. The odds on the big-serving Australian look fairly short at 4/7 and therefore despite his form there is no real value in backing him. Likewise with Karol Beck who plays Maximo Gonzalez, who has very little experience on hard courts, having only ever played six hard court matches, whilst Beck has played in the US Open three times but 4/9 on Beck still seems too short to have a bet.

In the woman’s draw Serena Williams is the heavy favourite and is priced at 2/1. Her sister Venus comes in at 8/1 and despite her poor form since Wimbledon, she can never be ruled out of the big tournaments and the 8/1 might look friendly once we get into the second week.

Click here for all the betting on the US Open.

Olympic Champion Elena Dementieva looks like a terrific bet on paper at 8/1, to win the Australian Open. She has just won 2 WTA titles in Australia – Auckland and Sydney. The world No. 4 is unbeaten in 10 matches and has been cut by some bookmakers to 13/2.

Everything in place for a cast-iron bet. But her form needs closer inspection – she has never won a Grand Slam and hasn’t reached a final since 2004, where she lost 2 in straight sets. Recent form is one thing, but if she has a temperamental problem at Grand Slams it will pay to oppose her, at least until she wins one.

Venus Williams is just shading favouritism on Betfair, but most bookmakers go 7/2 for both Williams sisters. Serena has won the Australian Open 3 times in the last 6 years, but pundits still give Venus a better chance this year. Serena only managed to win 4 games against Dementieva in Sydney, but has won the Open on alternate years: 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Victor Chandler go evens that one of the sisters wins it, but I’d probably be on the 4/5 side of the fence – any other player to win. As well as having 10/1 Safina on your side, you’d also have the likes of 7/1 Jankovic and 12/1 Ivanovic. World No.1 Jankovic is still a maiden, which is why many will prefer to pick one of the Williams sisters.

Of those at bigger prices, Canbet’s 100/1 for Amélie Mauresmo looks far too big. She beat Ivanovic 6-3 6-2 in Brisbane but had to pull out of the semis with an injury. She is feeling better now and won this tournament in 2006.

Recommendation:

2pts 4/5 Winner not to be a Williams Sister

1/2 pt @ 100/1 Mauresmo to win Australian Open 2009

bookies.com compares tennis odds between the top UK bookmakers:

Australian Open Womens Title Betting

Australian Open Womens Williams Sisters v The Field Betting

Australian Open Mens Winner Betting

Australian Open Mens Will There be a New Winner? Betting

Australian Open Mens Big 4 v The Field Betting