2014 U.S. Open Tennis Odds, Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

2014 U.S. Open Tennis Odds, Free Picks, Tips and Predictions: Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers The top tennis players in the world are set to head to Flushing Meadows, New York for the 2014 U.S. Open The final major of the season is played on hard court surfaces, which tend to produce fast action and high speeds. The tournament is also the only major tournament that features tiebreakers in every set. Of course, the biggest news heading into the tournament is that defending winner Rafael Nadal will not be in the field as he tries to recover from a wrist injury. While Nadal’s absence could make life easier for some of the other big names in the sport, it could also open the door for some surprise players if the big names were to falter. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the players with the best chance at claiming the 2014 U.S. Open title.

The Favorites

While he has struggled a bit since winning at Wimbledon, it is a pretty safe bet that top-ranked Novak Djokovic will regain his focus for the final major of the 2014 season. After all, he has reached the championship match at the U.S. Open in each of the past four seasons, winning in 2011. In fact, Djokovic has reached the semifinals of the tournament in each of the past seven seasons, making five appearances in the title match during the stretch.

Although he has failed to reach the semifinals at the U.S. Open in each of the past two seasons, there is reason to believe Roger Federer could round back into form at Flushing Meadows this weekend. After all, he has been on a roll since losing a five-set thriller to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, reaching the title match at the Rogers Cup and winning the Western & Southern Open. Plus, Federer did reach the semifinals eight years in a row from 2004 to 2011, making six finals and claiming five U.S. Open titles. As well as he has been playing lately, another run at a title is well within his reach.

It hasn’t been the best year for Andy Murray, but he has reached at least the quarterfinals in the U.S. Open in three straight years, winning the tournament in 2012. He has also reached the quarterfinals in his last 15 major tournaments, making 11 appearances in the semifinals during the stretch. His solid all-around game and match-to-match consistency has allowed him to make deep runs in major tournaments, even when he isn’t playing his best tennis.

The Dark Horse

Despite some noteworthy victories throughout his career, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has never been able to break through and win a major. However, he rolls into Flushing Meadows on the heels of a big victory in Canada a few weeks ago. Perhaps more importantly, Tsonga went through Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer to claim his Rogers Cup title. If Tsonga can play at a similar level at the U.S. Open, there is no reason he can’t win his first major title.

He has been enjoying one of his best seasons as a professional, and Stanislas Wawrinka not only captured his first major title with a win in the Australian Open, but he also captured his first Masters Series title with a win at Monte Carlo. Wawrinka also made the semifinals at the U.S. Open last year and has reached the quarterfinals in three of the last four major tournaments. If he is going to make a run at another major, it figures to come during this current hot streak.

The Sleeper

Armed with a massive serve, 23-year-old Milos Raonic has climbed to sixth in the rankings and shows no signs of slowing down. He reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and the Cincinnati Masters, and he claimed the title at the Citi Open. Raonic’s best tennis figures to be ahead of him so his recent surge could be the start of something special. He could make a surprise run at Flushing Meadows.