US Open Betting Guide

The US Open is the last major tennis event of the year, which in addition to significant spectator interest also generates a high level of online betting action. Given that the vast majority of tennis wagers are focused on Grand Slam tournaments, it is not surprising that this niche in the arena of online sports betting is widely represented by the leading operators, which have included a noteworthy set of betting markets for the tennis US Open. Top bookmakers have even taken care to establish a separate US Open sector in the live streaming functionality of their websites.

Besides the prestige of winning a Grand Slam tournament, what makes the world’s best tennis players strive to compete on the courts of Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York is the impressive prize pool of the event. As per the latest official data published by the organizers of the US Open, each of the men’s and women’s singles winners will get $2,500,000, as the amounts for doubles are $660,000, and for mixed doubles – 160,000. The structure of the tournament also includes a junior, senior, and wheelchair competition. Such an organization presupposes the availability of an abundance of matches to bet on. Before proceeding to the specifics of wagering on the US Open and our tennis betting tips, let’s first learn a little about the tournament itself.

US Open History and Features

The United States Open Tennis Championships or just the US Open as we all know it, starts the last Monday of August each year and lasts for two full weeks. At the beginning of its existence, the tournament was played on different locations and different types of court surfaces – grass from 1881 to 1974 and clay from 1975 to 1977. Since 1978, the home of the US Open has been the now called USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center welcoming all the five primary championships – men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. The court surface is hard – an acrylic layer over asphalt or concrete. It is no wonder that we mention the type of surface as it is a major factor when making your betting predictions. We will discuss the issue later in this article of our tennis betting guide.

The US Open is not just a big sports event but also a media, tourist, and gambling attraction. This Grand Slam tournament is played on 22 outdoor courts with the three main being the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Louis Armstrong Stadium, and the Grandstand Stadium. The first, which is also the biggest one, is named after Arther Ashe who won three major titles in his career – US Open (1968), Australian Open (1970), and Wimbledon (1975). The fact that all the courts are lit contributes to the appeal of the tournament since it enables matches to be played at night.

In 2005, the organizers made an interesting change, which was later followed by many of their colleagues around the world. All inner courts were painted in blue which not only facilitates tracking the ball by players, viewers, and referees but is also considered to be more appropriate in view of branding. In an attempt to make colors the tour’s distinctive label, trademark applications for US Open Blue (77416359; 87854002) and US Open Green (87854014) were filed. By the thus created visual signature, the USTA tried and eventually succeeded to promote also its lower-tier tournaments. When the average viewer recognizes the particular color, he automatically realizes that the event is part of the US Open series.

Tournament Structure and Popular Betting Markets

In general, the structure of the US Open does not differ significantly from that of the other Grand Slams. It comprises eight elimination rounds of a total of 128 players in the men’s and women’s singles competitions. In the men’s tournament, matches end when one of the players wins three of the five sets, while in the women’s and doubles, two of the three are played. After several changes over the years, the women’s final is now always played on the last Saturday of the competition, while the men’s final is on the next day.

Until recently, US Open’s tie-break rules included a 12-point tie-break to be played at 6-6 in the deciding set. This policy was slightly different from the one of the Australian Open, Rolland Garros, and Wimbledon. However, on March 17th 2022, the Grand Slam Board, made up of representatives from all the four Grand Slam tournaments announced that it is introducing a trial of a 10-point tie-break played at 6-6 in the final set. The aim of this amendment is to establish greater consistency in the rules of the four major tennis events. It remains to be seen how the new rule will be perceived but we believe it will enhance the experience of players, fans, and punters.

As regards tennis betting markets, probably the most popular one is the Outright Winner option. Also known as Futures, with this bet type you need to predict the winner of the whole tournament. The earlier before the event you place your bet, the longer the odds. For example, four months before the 2022 US Open, the favorite to win the men’s title is Novak Djokovic with odds of 2.38 (+138). If he plays well the whole season and suffers no injuries, his odds of winning will surely shorten on the eve of the tournament. Having in mind how scarcely profitable favorites’ odds usually are, do not wait for the last moment. Some bookmakers also allow for bets to be placed on Player to Reach The Final.

Here is a full list of US Open Champions in the last ten years:

As the US Open is one of the four most popular tournaments on the calendar, there is literally no limitation on the number of available betting markets offered by online sportsbooks. Apart from the Outright Winner bet type already mentioned, avid tennis punters can test their predicting skills by a large selection of match markets, including but not limited to 1×2, Handicap, Tie-Break Yes/No, Total Games, Player to Win a Set, Any Set to Nil, etc.

Basic US Open Betting Tips

With hundreds of betting options available for each US Open match, the tournament surely offers a good deal of chances to add some cash to your bankroll. It goes without doubt that you must follow the general tips for successful tennis betting explained in detail in the introductory article of this tennis betting guide. The very minimum you must always keep in mind is to look for value in every bet you place, not place too many wagers at a time, and of course, gamble without succumbing to emotions.

However, if you want to further increase your chances of successful bets on this particular tennis tournament, we advise you to take into consideration some specifics. History has shown that there is a higher probability of previous winners to hit again. Let’s take Novak Djokovic as an example. The above table shows that he has conquered the title twice the last 10 years but what it does not say is that he has been a runner-up four times (2012, 2013, 2016, and 2021) which means he has played in the US Open Men’s Final six out of ten times! The statistics are similar to Serena Williams, who participated in five finals, three of which she won (2012, 2013, and 2014).

It is time to mention the court surface again. Hard tennis courts require a complex style of play, so avoid risking your stakes on tennis players who are narrow specialists on a certain type of surface such as grass. Look for players who can boast of a mix of powerful serve, aggression when performing winning shots, and last but not least, a high level of defensive technique. Do not rely only on the players’ overall skills, though. It is not an insignificant fact that the US Open is the last Grand Slam of the year – it is possible that some players have accumulated too much fatigue during the active season or have suffered an injury from which they are still recovering. Here is an atypical tennis betting tip, but one that is worth thinking about. It is extremely difficult for a player to stay in top form from the beginning to the end of the year, so if someone has won the Australian Open, it is hardly a good idea to back him/her with a bet for the US Open (unless his name is Novak Djokovic). So, review the entire tennis season so far and then decide what bet to place.

Conclusion

Of the four Grand Slams, the US Open is the only tournament that has been played each year after its establishment. It has been the scene of some of the most impressive matches in the history of tennis such as John McEnroe vs. Bjorn Borg, Martina Navratilova vs. Chris Evert, Steffi Graf vs. Monica Seles, Pete Sampras vs. Andre Agassi, as the latter chose to end his magnificent career, namely on Flushing Meadows. Our time also has its tennis heroes, who we look forward to seeing in New York every year. Undoubtedly, the United States Open Tennis Championships is a top destination for avid online punters from all over the world. If you are already one of those devotees, carefully explore our betting guide and give betting on the US Open a try.