23-08-2006 PinnacleSports.com Opens Betting on 2006 US Open

Federer Favored to Join Lendl and McEnroe by Winning Third Straight US Open Title

With the final leg of tennis' Grand Slam beginning Monday at Flushing Meadows, PinnacleSports.com today released odds on who will win the Men's and Women's singles titles at the 2006 US Open. The top-ranked player in the world, Roger Federer enters the tournament as the top seed in the men's draw and PinnacleSports.com has made him the hot favorite to capture his third consecutive US Open title. 

The largest sports betting site on the Internet, PinnacleSports.com lists Federer as a prohibitive 5/9 favorite (win $5 for every $9 bet) to become only the third man in the Open era to win three consecutive US Open singles titles. Two-time French Open champ and Federer's main rival, Rafael Nadal has been listed with the second-best quote at 11/2 odds to win his first Grand Slam title away from the clay courts of Roland Garros. The top American contenders for the tournament are 2003 US Open champion, Andy Roddick (12/1) and fifth-seeded James Blake (31/1). After upsetting Federer in Ohio earlier this month, PinnacleSports.com lists British teenager Andy Murray (35/1) as a solid contender in the tournament's 125th year. Two-time champion and crowd favorite, Andre Agassi is currently a 106/1 long shot to end his illustrious career on a high note at the National Tennis Center.

On the women's side, PinnacleSports.com lists 2004 Wimbledon champion and third-seed Maria Sharapova a slight favorite at 3/1 odds to win her second Grand Slam title. The 2003 winner and three-time French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne has been installed with the second best odds to capture her sixth Grand Slam singles title at 7/2 odds. Despite entering the tournament as the top seed in the women's draw and ranked number one in the world, PinnacleSports.com lists Amelie Mauresmo with only the third-best odds to win the US Open at 9/2. Two-time Open champion Serena Williams has been listed at 13/1 although she's unseeded on the women's draw, while 1997 champion Martina Hingis stands at 14/1 to win her first major championship on the comeback trail.

Other players that could contend for the women's hard court title include: ninth-seeded Nicole Vaidisova (14/1); two-time champion Venus Williams (18/1); 2004 winner Svetlana Kuznetsova (19/1); 2004 US Open runner-up Elena Dementieva (25/1); and American Lindsey Davenport (27/1).