The final tennis Grand Slam of the year kicks off today at Flushing Meadows in New York for the US Open.
Here are Danny Archer's selections for the tournament.
Men's event - Federer looks well placed to land 20th Grand Slam crown.
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The men's tournament has taken a real battering as a host of big names are absent. That includes Britain's Andy Murray, last year's finalists Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic. 2017 has been a scintillating year for Switzerland's Roger Federer (15/8). Winner of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Federer lost to Alexander Zverev on the hard courts in Montreal in the final of the Rogers Cup earlier this summer. He has not played on the hard courts since but remains a solid favourite with the bookmakers to land the final Major of 2017. There are rumours that Federer may be suffering from a back injury but his form this year has been sensational and he was impressive when landing the Masters 1000 events in Miami and Indian Wells on the hard surface earlier in the year. He kicks off his campaign against talented Next Gen American Frances Tiafoe and could face Australian Nick Kyrgios in Score risk humdinger of a fourth round tie. Comparably, Federer has also been drawn in the same side as Rafa Nadal with the old rivals set to meet in the semi-finals. Despite his advancing years, Federer retains the game to make a mockery of some of his rivals and whilst there is a slight injury concern, Federer's unrivalled form which has seen him defeated just three times on tour. With a host of his main rivals also absent this year, Federer looks a worthy favourite for the US Open as he attempts to land his 20th Grand Slam.
Rafael Nadal (7/2) recently regained the No.1 crown from Andy Murray but apart from landing La Decina on the clay courts at Roland Garros, Nadal has not looked the same player on the hard courts. He suffered a shock exit to Next Gen Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16 in Montreal and was then dispatched in two sets by Nick Kyrgios in the quarter finals of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati. To put it bluntly, that is not the best build-up to a Grand Slam and I remain sceptical about Nadal's movement on hard courts these days. After myriad knee injuries, I think these courts just be a little too quick for the Spaniard 15-time Major winner at times. He starts against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic and could face Tomas Berdych in Round Four, Cincinnati champion Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals before a showdown with old rival Federer. However, there's enough of a worry regarding Nadal's suitability to this surface which makes him reluctant to back him.
20-year-old Next Gen German Alexander Zverev (11/2) has had a spellbinding year. He has reached six ATP finals, winning five of them and that has included two recent hard court titles this summer. Winner of the Citi Open in Washington DC over Kei Nishikori, Zverev was very impressive in Montreal in August when landing the Rogers Cup. Anyone who watched his round of 16 epic with Richard Gasquet, in which he saved a match point in a 49 shot rally will remember that game for a long time. He then dispatched Big serving South African Kevin Anderson in the quarters before ending the run of Canadian hope Denis Shapovalov in the semis. In the aforementioned final against Federer, he again impressed with his big serving and groundstroke game beating the 36-year-old 19-time Grand Slam winner in straight sets. Zverev was beaten by fellow Next Gen star Frances Tiafoe in Cincinnati last week but I would put that down to too many games and lots of travel. Do not write the young man off and he has been helped by Andy Murray's defection which leaves a very weak side of the draw. He could face Anderson in R3, Jack Sock in R4 and Marin Cilic in the quarters and he should go far in New York over the next two weeks.
Other players who warrant a mention include Croatia's Marin Cilic (16/1). One of the nicest guys on the tour, Cilic has not yet played on the hard courts this summer following his straight set defeat to Federer at Wimbledon. Winner of this tournament in 2014, Cilic also won at Cincinnati last year and his big serving games is well suited to the hard courts. The quick conditions in New York are also a boost but a lack of game time has to go down as a negative entering a Grand Slam. Grigor Dimitrov (16/1) has long been a player many people thought was destined to reach the top of the game but he has struggled to reach those heights. However, his flowing game was seen to great effect in Cincinnati where he defeated Nick Kyrgios in straight sets to land his first Masters 1000 crown. A semi-finalist at the Australian Open in January, where he lost an epic contest against Rafael Nadal, Dimitrov does possess the game to deep in New York and is worth keeping an eye on.
The aforementioned Kyrgios (22/1), one of the most talented players on tour played superbly in Cincinnati, defeating Nadal on his way to the final. His argumentative behaviour on the court does not help, but he is in good form this summer and a fascinating 4R clash with Federer potentially awaits. Dominic Thiem (33/1), former winner Juan Martin Del Potro (40/1), Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (50/1) and John Isner (66/1) have all been here before but it would be a major surprise if one of these guys stepped up to the level required to win a Grand Slam.
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Archer's Ace - Federer looks safest bet.
With so many big names out of this year's tournament, it might pay to stick the tried and tested man of the moment Roger Federer. Age will eventually catch up with him but he has been simply sensational this year. His back injury is a slight concern but just 3 defeats this year epitomises his hold on the men's game. For each-way purposes Alexander Zverev is also of interest. His form this year speaks for itself and he has shown a real liking for the hard courts. The only worry is that he is 20 and has never gone past a quarter-final in a Grand Slam. However, he has a decent draw and this looks a massive opportunity for him to show his talents.
Other interesting bets I would have a wager on are Grigor Dimitrov to win the first quarter (4/1), Federer to win the second quarter (8/11), Zverev to win the third quarter (5/4), Federer/Zverev final (5/1) and Federer (5/4) and Zverev (2/1) to reach the final.
Women's event - Tough to call but Pliskova and Svitolina look progressive
If you pick the winner of the women's event then you deserve a medal as this looks an incredibly open field. A pregnant Serena Williams' absence has left a chasm which merely reiterates why she is arguably the greatest female tennis player of all time. Jelena Ostapenko's shock French Open victory was buffeted by Garbine Muguruza impressively winning Wimbledon, her second Grand Slam title, but for punters these results make picking the winner from such an open field even harder.
Eight women have the potential to end the US Open as world no.1 and that includes the current holder of that title Karolina Pliskova. I've been incredibly loyal to Pliskova this summer but she has let me down in Toronto and Cincinnati where narrowly beaten in three sets on both occasions. She heads the market at 13/2 and beat Serena Williams in straight sets in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows last year. She then lost in three sets in a edgy final to Angelique Kerber and would have learnt a lot from that experience. I'm hoping Pliskova can put her game together and land the spoils.
Garbine Muguruza (7/1) won Wimbledon and was also a very impressive victor in Cincinnati earlier this month where she beat Simona Halep 6-1, 6-0. That was a stunning performance and shows Muguruza's ability to be a leading light in New York. She's playing excellent tennis and is not easily discounted. British hopes rest on Jo Konta (12/1) who was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon but has so far struggled to match her impressive her court form in Australia at the start of the year on the US Series circuit. She possesses the game to have an impact but I just don't think she has enough quality to land a grand slam. Simona Halep (14/1) is an enigmatic performer who at times looks unplayable but has constantly choked under pressure. She has an absolute humdinger of a first round tie against Maria Sharapova and I question whether she has the mental toughness to win a Grand Slam.
At an each way price however, I'm very keen on Elina Svitolina's (14/1) chances. She has won five titles this season with her latest coming in impressive fashion at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. She defeated Venus Williams, Muguruza, Halep and Caroline Wozniacki that week and Cincinnati probably came too soon when she she was beaten in the R16. She could meet my other fancy Pliskova in the semis but I really rate Svitolina's game and she is definitely value.
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Madison Keys (18/1) who won the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford this summer, last year's winner Angelique Kerber (22/1), Wimbledon finalist Venus Williams (22/1), the returning Maria Sharapova (22/1), Caroline Wozniacki, Coco Vandeweghe and French Open Champion Jelena Ostapenko (all 25/1) could also spring a surprise by reaching the latter stages.
Archer's Ace - Pliskova and Svitolina of strong interest.
Karolina Pliskova and Elina Svitolina are two players in decent form and I expect them to make their presence felt in New York this week. Other bets I like include Pliskova to win the first quarter (2/1) and Svitolina to win second quarter (5/2).
Archer's best bets (Scale of 1-5 Points)
Roger Federer to win the US Open 15/8 Paddy Power 3pts Win
Alexander Zverev to win the US Open 11/2 Paddy Power 1pt E/W
Roger Federer to win second quarter 8/11 with BetVictor 5pts Win
Grigor Dimitrov to win the first quarter 4/1 2pts win
Alexander Zverev to win the third quarter 5/4 2pts Win
Federer/Zverev final (5/1) Bet Victor 1pt Win
Roger Federer to reach the final 5/4 3pts Win
Alexander Zverev to reach the final 2/1 2pts win
Karolina Pliskova to win US Open 13/2 Betfred 2pts Win
Elina Svitolina to win US Open 11/1 William Hill 2pts E/W
Karolina Pliskova to win first quarter 2/1 Bet365
Elina Svitolina to win second quarter 16/5 Bet365
Words by: Danny Archer
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