US Open: women's tournament betting preview, free tips & TV details

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Humphries’ best bets
Belinda Bencic 50-1
Cori Gauff 80-1

Unusually, the two chief value fancies for the US Open are both in the same eighth of the draw, the top one along with world number one and defending champion Naomi Osaka.

But with Belinda Bencic and Cori Gauff, two fine talents, both on offer at decent odds, it could pay to back both in the title betting in the hope that one reaches at least the quarter or semi-finals, which seems plausible.

Having been 400-1 in a place at the start of the year, Bencic is now an eighth of those odds but the Swiss miss may still prove a decent bet to get it right for the first time in a major at Flushing Meadows.
Bencic has been pinpointed for this major all year since her fine title triumph in Dubai in February.

She has not kicked on much since, but her talents look better suited to hard-court Grand Slam tournaments and she could be a different proposition in New York, where she made the quarter-finals in 2014.

However, we’ve moved into a different era since Bencic was undone by Shuai Peng in the last eight in New York five years ago.

The Swiss ace has been battling injury woes in many of the intervening seasons, Serena Williams is no longer a cert for titles even though she still heads the market this year, and younger talents Osaka, Ashleigh Barty, Sloane Stephens and Jelena Ostapenko have since displayed their wares in fine style in the majors.

But this year’s Wimbledon served notice that Gauff, who made a huge impression when reaching the fourth round of the grass-court major, could be the best of the lot of them.

It’s probably easier to dismiss the 15-year-old, who has since come up short against Zarina Diyas in singles in Washington DC but won the doubles there with partner Caty McNally. However, it may be wiser to focus on what she is actually capable of.

Gauff would become the youngest winner of a Slam singles in history should she remain unbeaten in the next two weeks. But while she was awesome until coming up against Simona Halep, who went on to win the title, in London this summer it’s just possible that she could be even better on her homeland hard courts in the coming weeks.

That’s why bookmakers quote her at only two-figure odds for the title and she can be chanced to shine once more.

It should be added that Gauff does not have it easy in the Big Apple from the outset. She opens against Anastasia Potapova, one of the best young Russians on the circuit.

But if we’re talking about her becoming one of the best players the sport has seen then the selection, who edged out French Open champion Barty in an exhibition match in Winston-Salem last week, should be able to find a way to open well.

To add to the mix, there’s another fine prospect in the first eighth of the draw in Marie Bouzkova, but even the promising Czech may have to wait for another day to shine.

Other selection
Dayana Yastremska 66-1

Barty, Karolina Pliskova, Elina Svitolina, Serena and Cincinnati champion Madison Keys are the big names in the bottom half of the draw, but for an interest it could be worth having a modest punt on Dayana Yastremska.

The Ukrainian 19-year-old gives the ball a right old whack and with question marks over whether Svitolina and Serena are up to going deep in the tournament, Yastremska looks worth chancing.

Sofia Kenin’s fine efforts this season mean the American is another whose chance should be respected, but her outright prices for big tournaments have looked on the short side since the spring, and punters may find better value in Yastremska.

Others to note
Petra Kvitova

The Czech has been suffering with injury in recent months, but it would be no surprise if Kvitova turns up in New York on the front foot. She was superb at the start of the season and the touch could still be there.

Aryna Sabalenka

The ninth seed opens with a tough clash against her fellow Belarusian Fed Cup partner Victoria Azarenka and that clash is highly likely to be hard won. But if she finds a way to progress, Sabalenka has a direct path through to the quarter-finals if she’s on top of her game.

Svetlana Kuznetsova

The 2004 champion was a revelation when reaching the Cincy final recently and bookmakers have slashed her odds for Flushing. But while the Russian veteran could be a threat, it would be another remarkable effort if she was to carve her way through the second quarter of the draw.

Venus Williams

The oldest player in the field, Venus Williams can seldom be written off. There have been signs that age is finally catching up with the 39-year-old dual US Open heroine, but she’ll probably still find a way to pip Saisai Zheng in her opener. A consummate match-player, Venus can still trouble the best on her day.

Recommendations
B Bencic
1pt each-way 50-1 Betfred, Hills
Back this tip with Hills
C Gauff
1pt each-way 80-1 Betfair, Paddy Power, Sky Bet
Back this tip with Paddy Power
D Yastremska
0.5pt each-way 66-1 general
Back this tip with bet365