US Open Betting: Who best to take on Serena with?

Are you a backer or a layer of Serena Williams at 2.26/5 to win the US Open? The way she played in the Olympics, it requires a certain amount of traditional bookmaking bravery to take her on. If you discard that performance however, it is an absurd price.

Looking either side of the Olympics, her loss of sets against Shvedova, Zheng and Radwanska in the scramble to win Wimbledon and her 6-4 6-4 loss to Angelique Kerber back on the hard court at Cincinatti last week makes that 2.26/5 a very tempting price to take on.

The key lies in the move away from grass. Back on the hard, the serve is blunted a bit. Gives the rest a fair chance. You get 127 other possibles for your just over even money lay. In my last three years of taking Serena on, I've suffered a few bruises but because of the prices, I'm still marginally ahead. This is where I make the big leap into profit!

So which of the other 127 to support?

Jelena Jankovic is no-one's idea of Miss consistency but this week's win against the improving Yaraslava Shvedova confirms that her form is still ok. She's one of those that can trouble Serena on hard court - where her own serve is less of a problem factor - and at 310.0309/1, she is massively over priced for a former world number one.

Maria Kirilenko continues to improve making QF at Wimbledon - her second last eight achievement in a slam - the other occurring on the Australian hard court. She got her best Flushing Meadow score in 2011 and looks set for another run here so that her 230.0229/1 is also worth taking.

Vera Zvonareva at 340.0339/1 and Flavia Pennetta at the famed Betfair 1000.0999/1 are both massively over priced but both are carrying injuries and are thus possible non-starters. Keep your eye on Friday's draw to see if they are in it and back fast if they appear. I'm particularly keen to cover Pennetta who has made three of the last four QFs at Flushing Meadow.

My other four are lesser prices. Li Na is a bit short at 18.535/2 but is back in form and good on the surface and can be expected to go deep into this tourney.

Defending champion Sam Stosur is a great price at 38.037/1. Like Jankovic, she has become extremely inconsistent but is definitely another of those with what it takes to play through Serena on the surface. I want her in my portfolio. Likewise Kim Clijsters - also long at 38.037/1. Creaking a bit now but another for whom hard court is the preferred surface.

Final addition to the portfolio is the German Angelique Kerber 27.026/1 who has some sports psychology maturing still to do but is getting there gradually as the performance in Cincinatti last week proved.

Recommended Bets:

1pt Jelena Jankovic,Maria Kirilenko,Kim Clijsters,Li Na,Sam Stosur & Angelique Kerber
Plus 1pt on Vera Zvonareva & Flavia Pennetta if they appear in Friday's draw.
(All bets as back to lay)