The Overrule - US Open 2010

By Sports Magician

The final Grand Slam of the season begins later today at Flushing Meadows but our preparation for this event began many weeks ago. The Overrule has gradually built up a portfolio of outright selections that should serve us well over the next two weeks – particularly in the women’s event. Let us take an overview of our current positions.

WOMEN

4*Kim Clijsters @ 6.70 (Current Best Price: 4.50)
3*(EW) Maria Sharapova @ 13.00 (CBP: 6.50)
2*(EW) Victoria Azarenka @ 17.00 (CBP: 10.00)
1*(EW) Svetlana Kuznetsova @ 36.00 (CBP: 19.00)

The withdrawal of Serena Williams provided a boost for our already made selections and has resulted in the Overrule containing three of the top four women – in the betting – at healthy prices. Since the draw was made my feelings are that Clijsters is a very deserving favourite and I expect her to retain the title she won last year in such extraordinary fashion (with it being her third tournament since coming out of retirement). Kuznetsova appeals the most of our each-way selections as she has really found some form and is a previous winner of the US Open. Sharapova is also a previous winner, but her serve seems to be deserting her at crucial stages. Fortunately, the draw was relatively kind to us with only Sharapova and Kuznetsova being drawn in the same quarter, while Azarenka and Clijsters are in opposite quarters in the bottom half of the draw.

MEN

2*(EW) Novak Djokovic @ 17.00 (CBP: 17.00)
1*(EW) Tomas Berdych @ 21.00 (CBP: 23.00)
1*(EW) Nikolay Davydenko @ 34.00 (CBP: 51.00)

Price movements for our men’s selections have gone in the opposite direction of our women’s picks. Djokovic has remained the same price for the majority of the time since Wimbledon, while Berdych has gone in and out. Davydenko has only shown sparing form in recent weeks and therefore his price has gone south. The draw has thrown up some potentially exciting quarter-final possibilities – Rafael Nadal v David Nalbandian, Andy Murray v Tomas Berdych, Davydenko v Djokovic and Robin Soderling v Roger Federer. Unfortunately, Juan Martin del Potro has not recovered in time to defend the maiden Grand Slam he won last year – in which the Overrule backed him at 15.00 to do so. Djokovic will carry the bulk of our hopes on the men’s side, with Berdych more than capable of causing some damage with his new found maturity and big match temperament. I’m not expecting much from Davydenko, but he could play himself into some form in the early rounds.

All in all the Overrule looks well set for the US Open as we also stand to gain 18 points if Ana Ivanovic fails to reach the last four of the women’s event. Given that the Serbian pin-up is in Clijsters’s quarter, the chances of her reaching the last four are remote – to say the least. Ivanovic hasn’t been beyond the second round of a Grand Slam since we sold her Grand Slam Performance with Sporting Index before the French Open and it wouldn’t be a surprise if she fails to win consecutive matches once again.

The Overrule will be taking a short break from tennis action over the next few weeks but will return to see out the 2010 season.

Sports Magician