US Open Betting / Barry Millns / 07 September 2009 / Leave a comment

One week gone, one to go - Barry Millns looks back on the good, the bad and the ugly from the first seven days of the US Open.

"Melanie Oudin, or Little Miss Sunshine, currently trading at [30.0] to win the title, has certainly been the star of the show so far, taking on Russia single-handedly and winning."

Hats off to the weather first of all! As someone who has sat through far too many rain delays here in the past, the lack of interruptions has been most welcome. I just hope I'm not tempting fate.

Melanie Oudin, or Little Miss Sunshine, currently trading at [30.0] to win the title, has certainly been the star of the show so far, taking on Russia single-handedly and winning. The bubbly 17-year-old's back-to-back triumphs against Elena Dementieva and Maria Sharapova lit up the Arthur Ashe Stadium and even if her Open ends now she has had a great run which, after reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon from qualifying, bodes so well for the future of American women's tennis.

As one veteran scribe said to me, Oudin's mental strength and grooved ground-strokes remind him of Chris Evert at the same age and if Oudin can handle the attention that will now be heaped upon her who is to say she won't go on to become a major force in the game?

The other fairytale of the first week was written by Kim Clijsters, ([4.8]), who like Oudin the day before, could hardly believe what she had done when she knocked out Venus Williams in a remarkable contest on Sunday. Having split love-sets it seemed the Belgian's comeback might come to a halt in the decider, but her hunger and desire for more glory post-retirement got her through.

Whether Clijsters can win a possible semi-final against Serena Williams [1.83] we must wait to see, the defending champion again looking the player to beat after reaching week two without dropping a set. Yet even if Serena retains her title, the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion will still remain world No.2 behind angst-ridden Dinara Safina

If only the Russian could relax! All the talk of her topping the rankings without winning a Grand Slam has clearly messed up her mind, especially on serve. In all of her matches there was a morbid fascination to see how many double faults she would serve, her game looking so stiff and laboured at times that it is a wonder she ever got so high!

Yet Safina is not alone when it comes to Russian players with issues. In addition to Sharapova's record 21 double faults against Oudin, Vera Zvonoreva will be hurting badly following her final set collapse against Flavia Pennetta [32.0], having had six match points against the Italian in a dramatic second set and then let her emotions get the better of her, as they have so often before.

The men's singles has been far less dramatic so far with a record 14 of the top 16 seeds making it through to the last 16. But that bodes well for some great matches down the stretch with the likes of Andy Murray [4.5], Novak Djokovic [14.0 ]and Juan Martin Del Potro [14.5] looking the major threats to Roger Federer's [2.08] dominance.

Whether Rafael Nadal [12.5] can go further with a strained abdomen is a major doubt, especially as he now has to deal with Gael Monfils [100.00] and then either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [36.0] or Fernando Gonzalez [140.00] who have all been hitting the ball ferociously well. As for the un-seeded John Isner [210.00], having toppled Andy Roddick who will stop the young giant from doing even more damage in the top half of the draw?

Finally, a tip of the hat towards 'Crazy' Daniel Koellerer. The Austrian's fiery antics on the challenger circuit have long made him a star of on-line replays and earned him a villainous reputation. But having proved he can play a bit by reaching the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time, check out the closing stages of his match against Del Potro. Broadway beckons!

Tags: Andy Murray Tennis Betting, Kim Clijsters, Mary Oudin, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, tennis betting, US Open Betting