Much like the men’s draw, the women’s draw has its fair share of absentees which adds to the unpredictability and intrigue surrounding this year’s US Open. Angelique Kerber will be defending here title here in New York and with 3 different Grand Slam winners already this season – this could well be one of the most open championships in the history of the US Open.
Here are some of the big match-ups on the opening day:
Match Betting: Varvara Lepchenko vs Garbine Muguruza
Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza is looking to add a third grand slam to her collection. The Spaniard was in scintillating form last month to pick up the trophy at SW19 to go with her 2016 French Open crown. She followed that up with a storming display at Cincinnati to underline her hard court credentials and is the justified favourite for the title in New York. She will face stiff opposition in the form of Lepchenko however, who is one of the more solid performers on the WTA tour.
Head to Head
This is the third tour level meeting between these two women with the H2H currently standing at 1 each. Their gulf in the rankings is reflected in the odds – Muguruza is 1/12 with Bet 365 whilst Lepchenko is 7/1 with Betfair.
Top Bet
Muguruza is the form player on the WTA tour and looks well placed to go deep here in NYC. Backing the Spaniard to win and for there to be under 18.5 games played in the match looks good value at 1.93/1 with Coral.
Petra Kvitova vs Jelena Jankovic
Two genuine heavyweights of the women’s game meet in New York on Monday with a place in the second round at stake it promises to be one of the highlights of day 1. Kvitova has overcome injury problems aplenty to take part here in New York whilst Jankovic is still searching for the form that took her to the top of the women’s rankings almost a decade ago.
Head to Head
This is the 8th meeting between these two women with Kvitova leading the record 4:3. With so little between the players this promises to be a tight affair but the odds make Kvitova the heavy favourite at 2/9 with Ladbrokes whilst Jankovic will be desperate to upset the bookies at 7/2 with Coral.
Top Bet
Both of these women are searching for form and many of their previous battles have gone the distance to 3 sets – backing 3 sets in the match looks savvy at 12/5 with Betway.
Simona Halep vs Maria Sharapova
Arthur Ashe stadium court is being treated to one of the all-time opening round matches as number 2 seed Simona Halep takes on the returning former champion, Maria Sharapova. The Russian has been granted a wild card at Flushing Meadows following her acrimonious ban for using a prohibited substance and she will be eager to show she’s still got it against one of the most recognisable players on the tour in Simona Halep.
Head to Head
This will be the 7th meeting between these two players with Sharapova currently standing unbeaten with a 6:0 record. Halep is the heavy favourite to put that right at 1/2 with Sky Bet whilst Sharapova is 7/4 for the win with Betway.
Top Bet
Easily the headline match but could well disappoint due to Sharapova’s lack of big-match exposure in last 18 months – Halep to win in straight sets at 5/4 with Bwin looks good.
Accumulator Bet
With 32 women’s matches taking place on Monday we’ve come up with 2 accumulators – a low risk and a high risk – to allow you the punter to make the call.
Low Risk:
- Johanna Konta vs Aleksandra Krunic – Konta to win
- Amandine Hesse vs Shuai Peng – Peng to win
- Viktoria Kuzmova vs Venus Williams – Williams to win
- Tereza Martincova vs Caroline Garcia – Garcia to win
- Kristyna Pliskova vs Misa Eguchi – Pliskova to win
Backing these 5 players to win pays 2/1 with Ladbrokes.
High Risk:
- Jana Cepelova vs Dominika Cibulkova – Cibulkova to win
- Donna Vekic vs Beatriz Haddad Maia – Vekic to win
- Sloane Stephens vs Roberta Vinci – Stephens to win
- Viktorija Golubic vs Timea Babos – Babos to win
- Kiki Bertens vs Maria Sakkari – Bertens to win
Backing these 5 players to win pays 6.38/1 with William Hill.