As Andy Murray showcases his shiny new plate and the rest of the world recovers from their Wimbledon hangover, the tennis betting community looks forward to what comes next on the ATP summer schedule. It won?t be long, after all, before the U.S. Open — the tour?s fourth Grand Slam event of the year — starts to unfold in New York.
For Murray, it can’t come soon enough. Not only is the 26-year-old Brit still riding high after becoming the first countryman to win a Wimbledon championship, he?s also the reigning U.S. Open crown-holder.
All the momentum has put him front and center on the international radar, and his tennis odds are starting to reflect the change in fortune. To put it bluntly, Murray?s performance in 2013 has made it so that he?s no longer merely the forgettable one of tennis? Big Four.
Now if only he could do something about that No. 2 world ranking.
Currently atop the U.S. Open futures, Murray is a 7-4 favorite. He?s not alone atop the pack, however; he?s joined by No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic. French Open winner Rafael Nadal trails the pair with 7-1 odds of winning the U.S. Open.
With Nadal?s health a constant concern and Roger Federer (10-1 U.S. Open odds) not getting any younger, there are plenty of opportunities for Murray and Djokovic to put some space between themselves and their peers.
Of the two elites, though, it seems Murray has the upper hand. Not only did he knock off Djokovic in straight sets in the Wimbledon final, but he did the same in the U.S. Open finale in 2012 as well.
While success in the second half of this summer and beyond seems likely for both Murray and Djokovic, it?s far from guaranteed. Just take one quick look at how the Wimbledon draw played out to see that the days of bracket predictability may well be behind us.
That might force fans and oddsmakers alike to reconsider their ATP betting strategies, but when it results in some of the most compelling on-court action of the decade, it can?t be all bad.
Now just weeks before the U.S. Open is set to unfold in late August, pay special attention to not only Murray, Djokovic et al., but also the rest of the tennis pack that made this year?s Wimbledon so memorable.
A series of must-watch events — including Masters tournaments at the Rogers Cup and Western & Southern Open — await.
King Murray, your throne is being challenged.
This article has been presented by Bovada.
