There was a time when the Williams sisters were playing regularly against each other in finals and semifinals of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world. Serena is arguably one of the greatest tennis players to ever grace the game, while Venus has her own exceptional legacy.
This is why it is awesome to see them compete at the highest level way after the age of 35. It’s time for the Williams sisters to face each other once again in a Grand Slam tournament. This time, it’s the round of 32 at the US Open.
Such a clash has never happened that early, since both of them are part of the WTA. This is a bit of unfamiliar territory, but I feel that both will be eager to prove to the world that they’ve still got it.
This could be an epic match, and I can’t wait to watch it. Of course, it’s also a good opportunity to find some lucrative betting options and make some money.
But before I move on to that, let’s take a look at their previous meetings.
A quick look at the history of the Williams sisters’ rivalry shows as many as 29 matches in total so far. Serena has the upper hand, as she won 17 of them, but Venus was victorious the last time they met. She beat her sister 6-3 6-4 in this year’s Indian Wells.
Since Venus is the older sister, she had the upper hand at the beginning, but Serena has been dominating the last couple of years. She won 8 of the last 10 times they played each other. However, Venus did manage to actually snatch two victories on hard courts.
The US Open is played on the same surface, so Venus might actually have a chance of winning this match. On top of that, this is the 6th time the two Williams sisters will play at this particular Grand Slam tournament, and Serena leads 3-2.
From a historical point of view, Serena Williams has the upper hand, but Venus certainly is not a complete underdog.
Now that we’ve explored the past, let’s go back to the present and check the main betting markets for this match.
It looks like the bookies consider Serena as the overwhelming favorite in this match. This is hardly a surprise, as she has been the better player in the past 5-6 years. Venus hasn’t won a Grand Slam tournament in the past 10 years, while her sister has been dominating the circuit.
In fact, I feel the odds would’ve been much lower if it wasn’t for Serena’s return from pregnancy at the start of this year, but more about that later.
The over/under 21 games line also reflects the expectations that Serena will win easily. It’s obvious that the gambling sites see this as a victory in two sets for the younger sister. I tend to agree with such an assessment if you judge by this year’s performance of Venus and Serena Williams.
Let’s move on to the individual analysis of each sister.
It’s remarkable that Venus Williams is 38 and is still playing at such a level. She is number 16 in the official WTA rankings, which is more than respectable.
In fact, it’s close to a miracle at her age, especially if you consider the fact that she was in the top 10 a couple of months ago.
Despite her solid performances, Venus is not at the same level as she was once before, and this is quite normal. She failed to pass the first round in the Australian Open and the Roland Garros. Her best performance in a 2018 Grand Slam was at Wimbledon.
She’s reached round 3 of her favorite tournament, so she has the chance to actually go one step further if she manages to defeat her sister.
The problem is, I’m not sure if she’s physically capable of competing with Serena right now. Venus had a knee injury recently, and even if it is fully healed, it did mess with her preparation for the US Open.
I think this could be a deciding factor, because her sister is one of the most demanding players out there in terms of fitness, even if she’s not at her best either.
Furthermore, her path to the 3rd round was hardly a walk in the park. Venus beat in 2-1 sets fellow veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova in her opener and was pushed hard by the Italian Camila Giorgi.
It’s hard to describe the greatness and achievements of Serena Williams. She has won so many tournaments and matches throughout the years that I struggle to recall any other athlete that has been so dominant for so long.
Her streak was interrupted when Serena gave birth to her first child, and many believed she would struggle to return to top form. The early indications suggested this would be the case, but the former world number 1 actually reached the Wimbledon final.
She might not be the same unstoppable force she was a couple of years ago, but Serena Williams is certainly one of the best players out there.
The world was shocked when she was beaten 6-1 6-0 by Johanna Konta recently, but the release of her half-sister’s killer was the main reason behind that.
Her performance at the US Open so far suggests that Serena Williams is fully focused and ready to attack the title. She destroyed her first two opponents, losing a total of 8 games in the process.
Sure, Magda Linette and Carina Witthoeft are not exactly the strongest possible challenges out there, but Serena has looked great in both matches so far.
While Venus Williams is not exactly harmless and has beaten her sister in the past, she is way out of her prime. I don’t think she is capable of producing the performance required to beat Serena, who’s returning to her best shape.
The price of 1.38 might seem short, and I don’t often recommend placing such bets, but I think it’s worth it this time around. It is a perfect option if you are looking to build an accumulator, but it’s decent enough on its own, too.
Of course, I can’t miss the opportunity to take a look at the odds for the US Open winner in the women’s draw. Can one of the sisters actually add another title to her collection? I don’t think Venus has any chance of a victory, but it’s another story when it comes to Serena.
In fact, she is the main favorite to win the tournament, and the price you could get is around the 4.00 mark. Still, I don’t think it’s a great price and not worth a shot. There are a couple of other players that could beat Serena.
One of them is Angelique Kerber. The German star is in her prime and knows how to win against her American rival. She has beaten her in two Grand Slam finals already, including this year’s Wimbledon. The price of 8.00 seems like a decent option, and I wouldn’t rule Kerber out.
According to the bookies, Sloane Stephens is the third most likely winner, and you can find similar prices for her. Considering the good record of American players on their home soil and the fact that many believe Stephens is the next big thing, I feel this won’t be a terrible bet, either.
What bothers me is the rather slow start so far, as Stephens wasn’t convincing in any of her first two games. And yet, that was the case last year, too, but the American managed to win her first Grand Slam tournament.
She is eager to defend her title and already showed growth by reaching the French Open final earlier this year.
There are a couple of other names that are always dangerous, including the likes of Elina Svitolina, Madison Keys, Petra Kvitova, and Kiki Bertens. And still, I think they won’t be able to snatch the title and compete with Williams, Kerber, and Stephens.
I would say the best approach is to back both Kerber and Stephens, as the odds allow you to easily split your wager and still get a solid return.
Are you excited to watch the Williams sisters once again, as I am? I expect them to put a show for the public, but Serena should win rather comfortably in the end.
In fact, she could well go on to grab the trophy after that.
What’s your opinion? Do you think someone could stop Serena? Let me know in the comments section below.
The post Who Will Win the Battle of the Williams Sisters at the 2018 US Open? appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
0 comments