It is an annual jewel in the New York sports scene.
The U.S. Open Tennis Championships begin Monday and there is added reason this should be an ace of a spectacle for fans and for NY sports betting.
After all, Serena Williams will be making her final career appearance in the annual Grand Slam event. It is the 21st U.S. Open appearance for tennis royalty.
Williams will face Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic in the first round as both women’s and men’s draws were announced Thursday afternoon in New York. If Williams advances, she will play the winner of No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, and Jaqueline Adina Cristian, of Romania.
Serena’s Storied Tennis History
Williams, the six-time U.S. Open champion, announced on Aug. 9 she is retiring from the game and the U.S. Open will be her final competitive tournament. She has advanced to 10 career final appearances in New York and won the singles title in 1999, 2002, ‘08, ‘12, ‘13 and ‘14. She also has two doubles titles (1999 and 2009).
Williams is tied for the most U.S. Open singles titles in the Open era at six with Tennis Hall of Famer Chris Evert, who won from 1975-78, as well as in 1980 and ‘82.
Williams, who turns 41 on Sept. 26, has posted 73 career singles titles, 23 career doubles titles and has more than $94 million in career winnings. She is one Grand Slam title away from tying Margaret Court’s record of 24.
Here is a look at the records for most Grand Slams in women’s tennis history, according to www.usopen.org.
Serena’s 23rd Grand Slam win was over her older sister, Venus, in the 2017 Australian Open. She beat Venus 6-4, 6-4.
Can Serena Williams Do It Again?
What a story it would be if Serena goes out a winner and adds to history.
A quick check of NY sports betting apps indicates that story is unlikely but far from impossible.
To put Serena’s chances to conjure up a little tennis magic, Empire Stakes.com has provided some perspective on what it would take.
BetMGM New York posted odds for Williams to win the U.S. Open at +3300.
Sticking with BetMGM, EmpireStakes.com notes that Williams’s odds would be better than the following.
Serena Williams BetMGM Odds Are Better Than . . .
Hey, some of those don’t seem so far-fetched.
Maybe Serena can do the improbable at almost age 41.
BetMGM lists Iga Swiatek as the favorite to win the women’s title, followed closely by Naomi Osaka at +600.
Check EmpireStakes.com for updates on major New York sporting events and for the best New York sports betting promo codes.
No Djokovic on Men’s Side
On the men’s side, three-time champion Novak Djokovic will not participate in this year’s tournament due to existing COVID-19 rules within the state.
Djokovic, who won the U.S. Open in 2011, ‘15 and ‘18, is not vaccinated.
PointsBet New York lists the following as favorites: top-seed Daniil Medvedev (+225), Rafael Nadal (+350), Carlos Alcaraz (+550), Nick Kyrgios (+850) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (+1200).
