Early Look at US Open Women’s Tennis Favorites

Of the last seven Grand Slam winners on the women’s side, only Ashleigh Barty’s name has appeared twice, putting into focus the openness of the field as the final major of the year beckons.

The same goes for the US Open over a seven-year span, the only difference being the name – Naomi Osaka – appearing twice on the trophy. US Open betting odds reflect the current lack of disparity between elite players. 

The current heightened level of parity coincided with the waning of Serena Williams’ dominance on tour. 

Osaka is the only player of the six favorites who has won the US Open and has more than two major trophies. 

In anticipation of the year’s final major, here are the best US Open bets based on the six favorites. 

Iga Swiatek – +450

Iga Swiatek’s remarkable 37-match winning streak came crashing halt in her third-round straight-set Wimbledon loss to Alize Cornet. Yet, despite that defeat, the Polish superstar is still the most dominant player in women’s tennis and poses a serious threat to win her first US Open title. 

Swiatek, appearing in her fourth US Open, has never advanced past the fourth round of the tournament. The world No. 1 has won nine titles and two Grand Slams, both coming on clay at Roland Garros. 

She’s a solid bet but isn’t nearly as untouchable as she was prior to Wimbledon. 

Ons Jabeur – +900

Playing in her seventh US Open, the Wimbledon finalist is still looking to advance past the third round at Flushing Meadows for the first time. However, she has the versatility and adaptability to ensure a deep run at the US Open. She should be confident after making her first appearance in a Grand Slam final. 

While Jabeur has been the second most consistent player on tour behind Swiatek, the Tunisian is still prone to periodic lapses and sometimes has difficulty choosing the right shot at pivotal moments. 

Look for Jabeur to make it to at least the fourth round, but fall short of winning her first Grand Slam.  

Elena Rybakina – +1000

The Wimbledon champion was a revelation at the All England Club. She has one of the best serves on tour and can strike the ball with awe-inspiring power. During the final against Jabeur, Rybakina managed a 111 mph first-serve average. 

However, the 23rd-ranked Kazakh, had difficulty maintaining a consistently high-performance level before Wimbledon. She also lacks the versatility and deft touch of other elite players, namely Jabeur. However, that didn’t prevent her from overpowering the crafty Tunisian on Centre Court in the Wimbledon final. 

Rybakina should be salivating at the thought of playing on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, as she can unload from the service line and get into a hard-hitting rhythm from the baseline.  

If she locates her venomous serve and executes her thunderous baseline shots consistently, Rybakina is the player to beat at the US Open. 

Naomi Osaka – +1100

Osaka is the only player of the six favorites who has won the US Open. She’s looking for her third title at Flushing Meadows, with the other two coming in 2018 and 2020. However, for all of her winning pedigree and an amazing track record at the US Open, Osaka’s status as fourth favorite is at best fragile. 

She pulled out of Wimbledon due to an Achilles injury and has played only 17 matches this season. So it’s a lot to expect the 24-year-old to enter the US Open with the confidence, timing, and fitness she’ll require to triumph over one of the strongest and most even fields in recent memory.   

Aryna Sabalenka – +1400

Aryna Sabalenka lost in the semifinal of the 2021 US Open, her best result in four attempts at Flushing Meadows. She also advanced to the same stage at Wimbledon last season but was unable to participate in this year’s edition as she’s Belarussian.

The rest of the draw got a huge break by not having to face Sabalenka, who has the offensive arsenal to trouble the best returners in the game. Currently ranked sixth in the world, Sabalenka has won 10 titles, none occurring in the current calendar year. 

Like Osaka, Sabalenka has endured a challenging year rife with inconsistency. She has a mediocre 19-14 record in 2022 and is susceptible to an on-court collapse. If she loses control of her serve, Sabalenka could face an unceremonious and premature exit from the US Open. 

The question is which version of Sabalenka will show up in New York. 

Simona Halep – +1400

Simona Halep is always a contender regardless of the tournament or court surface. 

The recent Wimbledon semi-finalist and two-time Grand Slam champion has never found her best tennis at the US Open. 

In 11 previous US Open appearances, Halep has only advanced to one semifinal. In addition, six visits have ended in either the first or second round, an ominous collection of frustrating defeats for the 16th-ranked Romanian.