Could the Olympic Games Determine Who Succeeds and Who Flops at the U.S Open?

Posted on By sweety

It?s a cool 10,845 km from Tokyo to New York, or roughly 6,700 miles if you prefer. Even on the most private of private jets, that?s a flight time of around 12 hours ? with the unavoidable jet leg that goes with it.

Why is that relevant? Well, the final of the men?s and women?s tennis singles at the Olympic Games will take place on August 1? with the US Open at Flushing Meadows getting underway just 28 days later.

When you factor in the two-week gap between the French Open and Wimbledon as well, it?s clear that some of the best and biggest names in tennis are facing an almighty physical battle if they want to contend at the year?s final major.

That?s interesting from a wagering perspective, because there are some short prices available in the US Open tennis betting odds that might well be best avoided.

Take Novak Djokovic, for example. He will represent Serbia at the Games in Japan just after winning both the French Open and Wimbledon ? two Grand Slam events that take their toll on the body in different ways.

The 34-year-old will be expected to do very well at the Olympics too ? and who wouldn?t want to win a gold medal? But that might have severe implications for his attempts to win the US Open, and for a player currently priced by the sportsbooks at -110 to lift the trophy? well, needless to say, the interest of bettors will be piqued as they seek value elsewhere.

Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, two other players that have played plenty of tennis this summer already, will also be heading to Japan, and so perhaps the door is ajar for an experienced campaigner that?s no stranger to success at Flushing Meadows?

No One Expects the Spanish Inquisition?

Anyone that has turned 35 can tell you that the bones start to creak a little more at that age, and the muscles tend to cry out for help a bit more when undertaking anything physical.

Even for supremely-honed athletes, there remains an element of truth to that statement, and so the elder statesmen and women of elite sport have to look after their bodies and manage their workload.

That?s one of the reasons why Rafael Nadal opted not to play at Wimbledon or the Olympics. At 35, the Spaniard knows how to keep himself in prime physical condition, while ensuring that he has the best possible chance of peaking heading into the events he feels he can win.

And the US Open is certainly one of those. He is a four-time winner at Flushing Meadows,?and in his last three trips to this part of New York, he has reached the semi-finals at the very least.

Nadal has shown in 2021 that he is still a major force too. A quarter-finalist at the Australian Open, he led Djokovic by a set at the French before succumbing to a defeat in a 50/50 match.

Everything is in place for Nadal to challenge for a fifth US Open title, and at sportsbook odds of +600, he looks to be an outstanding bet for a 21st Grand Slam win ? making him the most decorated male tennis player in history.