Sportsbook.com Offers US Open Odds

Andre Agassi, one of the greatest players of his generation, is hanging up his racket at the end of this year's US Open. While he dreams of exiting the game in the same way his old rival Pete Sampras did, by winning the title, the next generation of US stars like Andy Roddick and James Blake, which he inspired, are ready to take hold of the torch. As the final grand slam of the year kicks-off next week, Sportsbook.com has odds on all the top stars.

While there's no disputing the two men to beat will be world numbers one and two Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, it's worth remembering that Agassi reached the final last year and is capable of one last charge to win his third US Open in front of a partisan crowd. Agassi is a long shot at 55-1 according to Sportsbook.com's odds makers, compared to Federer at 1-2 and Nadal at 3-1. Andy Roddick, the 2003 winner looks to be back in form with new coach Jimmy Connors leading him to victory in last week's Cincinnati Masters Series event. Roddick is a 12-1 bet to capture his second Open while fellow American James Blake is just behind at 25-1.

While the rowdy New York fans would love to see Agassi make one last valiant fight for the title, or see Roddick or Blake take home the crown, Federer and Nadal will have a lot of backing as well. Federer is looking to become only the third man to win three consecutive US Opens, joining Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe. Nadal is looking to prove he can win a major event outside of the comforts of a clay court surface. He would also become the first Spaniard to win the title since Manuel Orantes in 1975. Former men's champions Marat Safin (2000) and Lleyton Hewitt (2001) will be looking to regain their winning form and have odds of 40-1 and 45-1 respectively. On the women's side, defending champion Kim Clijsters has withdrawn due to injury, leaving the field a little more open. Maria Sharapova leads the pack with 11-4 odds followed by 2003 winner Justine Henin-Hardenne at 3-1. Amelie Mauresmo of France, a 4-1 bet, is looking to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2002 to capture three grand slam titles in the same season - having already staked claim to the Australian Open and Wimbledon trophies.

Perhaps the sentimental favorite at this year's event will be Martina Hingis. The former champion (1997) makes her first appearance in Flushing Meadows since 2002 and is in top form of late, reaching the final in Montreal last week. Hingis is a 9-1 favorite while former two-time champions Serena Williams and Venus Williams sit at 12-1 and 15-1 respectively. Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 winner is a 15-1 favorite.

"The US Open is the most exciting tennis event of the year - the New York crowd at night is electric and it's the last chance to win a major for the year, so the players get really pumped," said Alex Czajkowski, Sportsbook.com. "Everybody loves the US Open and everybody bets

2006-08-25