The Overrule: US Open Men

By Sports Magician

Over the past few weeks the Overrule has been taking an early look at this year's US Open where we have so far focused mainly on the women's event. Nikolay Davydenko is one player we have backed at juicy odds in the men’s event and Sporting Bet are providing us with an opportunity to back two more of the likely contenders at an inflated price. Novak Djokovic has been struggling to recapture the form that saw him win his first and only Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open. The 23 year old Serbian is always there and thereabouts in the latter stages of Grand Slam events but hasn’t had that added spark that pushed him over the line in Melbourne two years ago.

The greater expectancy on his shoulders since winning the Australian Open has certainly played a part in Djokovic’s relative regression. At times he has looked unhappy with himself, with his racquet, with his support group, with everything. There have been fleeting signs this season that Djokovic is close to recapturing his top level, but doubts still persist. Even with that being the case, Sporting Bet are wrong to be taking on Djokovic in such a fashion. Novak has an outstanding record at the US Open, a semi-finalist in 2009 and 2008, and a runner-up in 2007. Each time he was beaten by Roger Federer, although with the way the former world number one has been playing of late, Djokovic would surely fancy his chances of finally beating Federer at the US Open should they meet this year.

Tomas Berdych is finally coming of age and translating potential into consistently strong performances. The 24 year old Czech reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open and then went one better at Wimbledon by reaching his first Grand Slam final. Can he go one further at the US Open? He has the game to do so and now we are beginning to see signs that he has the mental state to go with his ability with a racquet. Berdych hasn’t fared too well at the US Open in the past; having never gone beyond the fourth round, but that will surely change this year providing he doesn’t receive a nightmare draw.

PICK: 2*(EACH-WAY) NOVAK DJOKOVIC WIN US OPEN (1/2 ODDS 1-2 PLACES) @ 17.00 (SPORTINGBET)

PICK: 1*(EACH-WAY) TOMAS BERDYCH WIN US OPEN (1/2 ODDS 1-2 PLACES) @ 21.00 (SPORTINGBET)

Sports Magician