US Open Betting Tips Day Eight: Sweet Caroline!

US Open Betting / Ben Caudell / 07 September 2009 / Leave a Comment

"On the Arthur Ashe court, palpable tension surrounds the seeds. So I'm backing Wozniacki - she has less to lose than Kuznetsova, and less pressure riding on her shoulders."

Tonight's match between Danish rising star and a celebrated Russian stalwart has all the makings of a classic battle. But with no clear favourite before a ball has been hit where is Ben Caudell putting his money? Meanwhile, can an attacking Spaniard reinvigorate himself?

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) v Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

At even money both players will fancy their chances. Kuznetsova has quietly gone about her business, dispatching of three relatively easy opponents so far but she will have her work cut out against Wozniacki when she takes centre stage under the lights.

The Danish blonde bombshell has already recorded two 6-0 sets, against first round opponent Galina Voskoboeva and Petra Martic in the second round. She lost only 10 games from three matches and hasn't relinquished a set in her last eight matches, the last was during a loss to Jie Zheng in the first round of the Toronto Premier event. Winning last week's New Haven Premier Event has given the Dane the perfect preparation for this year's US Open, she is currently 8-2 on the hard courts compared with Kuznetsova's 6-4, her stats over the last three months on hard courts are notably better. However Kuznetsova leads their head-to-head series 2-1 with both wins coming on American hard courts.

Due to the fact that so many of the top women have thus far crumbled against lesser ranked opponents on the Arthur Ashe court, palpable tension surrounds the seeds. I am therefore going to be backing Wozniacki because I feel she has less to lose than the former champion, and less pressure riding on her shoulders.

Selection: Back Caroline Wozniacki @ 2.0 to win match
Back Three Sets @2.3

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) v John Isner (USA)

As a 6 ft 9" giant, and now a giant killer after dispatching of Andy Roddick in the previous round, Isner has been riding the crest of a wave during the American hard court season. He's recorded wins over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Tomas Berdych, Tommy Haas as well as Andy Roddick.

Both players will be reliant on their service games, Verdasco has probably the most consistent first and second service percentages on the tour while Isner wins games from hitting high amounts of aces (38 against Roddick) so if either is broken during a set, we can almost assume that the set is over.

Verdasco is the more potent from the back of the court; if Isner is forced into rallying from the back then Verdasco will dominate. However if Isner plays a similar game as he did against Roddick, rushing his opponent into making unforced errors, than Verdasco could have a game on his hands.

It is time Verdasco rekindled the form showed during the Australian hard court earlier this year and hopefully this match will further reinvigorate his appetite for battles against the elite. A potential quarter final showdown with Novak Djokovic will get the adrenaline pumping....

Selection: Back Fernando Verdasco @ [1.5] to win match
Back the Tie-Break @ [1.5]