2019 US Open Women’s 2nd Round Betting Preview

A year ago, Naomi Osaka won the US Open, taking down Serena Williams in one of the most controversial finals in tennis history, as Williams took three different conduct violations, one of which cost her a game, thanks to a dispute with the chair umpire. Osaka’s return to Arthur Ashe Stadium, this time as the tournament’s top seed, was also bumpy, as she needed way too much effort to beat the 84th best player in the world, Russian Anna Blinkova. Osaka won 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2. With that out of the way, though, Osaka has won 15 straight major matches on hardcourt. Can she roll to another title? We have some thoughts about the next round of the women’s draw for you to consider as you plan your US Open betting for the weekend.

2019 US Open Women’s 2nd Round Betting Preview

.@ElinaSvitolina, @serenawilliams and @Venuseswilliams all take to the court as the second-round action begins at the @usopen! All the key facts and talking points for Wednesday’s play! —> https://t.co/FpvmFc2lwK pic.twitter.com/PgrmPAqvNT

— WTA (@WTA) August 28, 2019

We talked about Bianca Andreescu as a player to watch at Flushing Meadows, as the last 12 months have been huge for her. Back in 2018, she had yet to crack the top 100 and was playing in tournaments with $25,000 purses all over the place. Today, she has moved up to #14 in the world, with a 39-4 record in 2019 matches and with almost $2.5 million in the bank in terms fo prize money — and she has missed a lot of the season with injuries. She took down Katie Volynets in her first US Open main draw appearance, and if she keeps going, she could see Simona Halep in the round of 16. Serena Williams ran roughshod over Maria Sharapova in their first-round match. Sharapova failed to win a single point on her second serve in the loss. While a run to the finals for Williams is still far from a certainty, it would be foolish to question her motivation and preparation after what happened in the finals a year ago. I would put my money on Williams until she falls by the wayside in this tournament, because she enters with all the intangibles in the world each round, and she will keep building momentum.

How much credibility has Alison Riske earned after taking down Garbine Muguruza in three sets?

Muguruza has tumbled out of the top 25, and despite the fact that she has a sparkling resume, her play has started to show too much hesitation, as though she doubts her own abilities. That can be the beginning of a long downturn. Riske faces Jelena Ostapenko, a former Grand Slam champion, in the second round. I would not put a pile of cash on Riske just because she took down a timid Muguruza in the first round.

What’s the Biggest Upset So Far?

Perhaps the biggest upset in the women’s draw was the defeat of Sloane Stephens, the 11th seed, by Anna Kalinskaya, the 127th ranked player in the world, a Russian qualifier who had never before won a match at a Grand Slam. Kalinskaya rolled 6-3, 6-4, as Stephens bounced out in the first round just two years after winning the whole tournament, beating Madison Keys handily in the final. Kalinskaya’s game involves groundstrokes that go deep into the corners, and despite the fact that she was on one of the show courts for the first time in her career, she did not show any jitters. Stephens made 33 unforced errors despite reuniting with former coach Kamau Murray, who had been with her during her championship run in 2017. Stephens has won just a single match in four tournaments in the hardcourt season. It will be interesting to see what is next for her — and for Kalinskaya, who should draw considerable momentum out of this win, in which she played nearly flawless tennis.