US Open Tennis Odds
US Open Tennis Odds
The US Open traces its roots to 1881, when the first event was held in Rhode Island. The final Grand Slam event of the season is one of the biggest sporting highlights of the calendar year. It’s now held annually at the USTA Center in Queens, NY, and is typically a hot ticket. The end-of-summer event is held around Labor Day and makes for an awesome way to transition into fall.
Each of the tennis majors are lots of fun, but the US Open hits some special notes that make it unique. It’s one of the two hard court majors, along with the Australian Open, so there’s plenty of data and insight on which players could be in line to do well. While watching the US Open is enjoyable enough on its own, things are about to get even better now that we can legally and safely bet in Illinois.
Latest US Open odds
You don’t have to wait until the US Open gets underway to pick your winners. Sportsbooks release futures odds at the beginning of the season and then update them frequently. Our live odds feed will keep you up to date with the latest numbers from multiple legal sports betting operators, so be sure to check back often. Check the sportsbooks below for current 2021 US Open odds:
US Open schedule and key details
One of the top tennis highlights of the year comes our way at the end of the summer. The US Open brings together the world’s best players for a thrilling two-week event. Here’s what you need to know:
- When: Aug/Sept
- Where: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY
- Stadium: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
- Surface: Hard court
- Attendance: Total of 737,872 fans for the 2019 edition
- Weather: Summer conditions with temps ranging from the upper 70s into the 90s
- Prize Pool: $53.4 million in 2020
- Viewing: ESPN and the family of channels
How to bet the US Open in Illinois
Now that sports betting is legal in Illinois, you can be ready to bet on the US Open in no time. You can even sign up for a sports betting account.
The first step is to pick a sportsbook. We highly recommend sticking with our featured operators. These are the top options in the state, all are completely legal and safe, and each provide an outstanding sign-up offer.
To begin, click on our exclusive links to gain access to the bonus offers. That will bring you to the sign-up page, where you’ll enter a few details, such as your name and address. You’ll have to check off a couple of boxes and verify your information is correct before clicking submit.
Your new sportsbook account will be set up instantly. You can take the time to browse, but be sure to download the app for your device from the sportsbook’s website. Leading operators will offer apps for Apple (iPhone, iPad) and Android users.
Once the app has been downloaded, log in on your phone. Just like that, you now have access to a legal sportsbook online and via your mobile device. You’ll find that the platforms are similar in both environments, but are naturally condensed for smaller screens.
After you’ve looked around for a bit, it’s time to make your first deposit. You’ll have a number of options to consider, including credit cards and PayPal. Once the book has accepted your deposit, you can get set to place some real money bets.
If you click on the tennis section on the site or app, the lobby will be populated with current and upcoming offerings. After you find the bet you want, click on the odds for that choice and it’ll appear on your bet slip automatically.
Next, add in your wager amount, verify that everything looks good, and click submit to place the bet.
US Open tennis betting options
There are lots of betting options for tennis, many of which work much like what you’ll find for other sports. As one of the four slams, the US Open Tennis Championships provides a plethora of opportunities. Here’s a look at the most popular ways to bet.
Outright winners
For this bet, you pick the winner of the whole tournament. There will be US Open tennis betting odds for all entrants on both the men’s and women’s sides of the draw. There’s also an active futures market for US Open winners:
| Novak Djokovic +150 |
| Dominic Thiem +175 |
Top finishers
You can also place your bets on the players whom you expect to have a solid overall tournament, such as by reaching the semifinals. Once again, you’ll find odds for all players on both sides of the draw:
| Naomi Osaka +125 |
| Ashleigh Barty +140 |
Head-to-head matches
For each match throughout the tournament, you’ll be able to wager on the outcome. The odds are set up as moneyline bets, with favorites having negative numbers and underdogs positive. Here’s an example:
| Roger Federer -170 |
| Stan Wawrinka +130 |
Spreads for sets and games
You can also find a spread element for the individual matches. Sportsbooks will set a line for sets or games. Just like any other spread bet, the side you choose has to cover the number for the bet to be a winner. It could look like this:
| Serena Williams -1.5 (-110) |
| Karolina Pliskova +1.5 (-110) |
Over/under on game totals
You can find totals betting in tennis as well. Most commonly, the bet revolves around the total number of games to complete the match. You can choose over or under on the benchmark listed at a sportsbook.
| Over 27.5 (-110) |
| Under 27.5 (-110) |
US Open props
A tennis prop could revolve around something that might happen during the course of a match. Other prop bets will revolve around specific segments of the match, such as which player will win the first set. Here’s a fictional example:
| Rafael Nadal -160 |
| Alex de Minaur +130 |
Odds for US Open futures will be released well in advance of the event. For the individual matches, you can expect to see lines up the day before or no later than the morning of the contest.
Also, remember that the numbers won’t always be exactly the same at each sportsbook. Line shopping, which simply means that you are comparing prices at multiple books to find the best ones, is highly recommended.
US Open live betting
Interest in tennis betting continues to grow across states where sports betting is legal. One of the big reasons for that is because you can bet right along with every serve and volley after the matches get underway. Live betting, also known as in game betting, makes it possible.
As the name implies, these are wagers you get to place in real time. Things move fast, but you can easily stay on top of the latest offerings with sportsbook apps. From the first serve to match point, you can bet every step of the way.
A number of innovations through the years have made it all possible. There are line cameras over the umpires and sportsbook apps provide a blow by blow of what’s going.
DraftKings Sportsbook introduced Flash Bet in 2019, and it has been a real game-changer. The platform features embedded graphics that allow you to track the movement of the ball. Winning bets are paid out within seconds of settlement.
While the point-by-point betting feature is tons of fun and a big draw, that’s not all there is to see here. As the match plays out, you’ll see updated odds on the outcome and various props to decide on, among other things.
Live betting helps take tennis betting to another level, and it’s worth the time to check it out. It’s another way to potentially make a buck on what happens at the US Open, but remember to use your head and stick to a budget.
US Open tennis betting tips
If you’re new to tennis betting, practice and patience are your friends, as it can take a little time to get up to speed. That said, the curve isn’t insurmountable. You can also lean on any basic handicapping principles that you have found success within other sports and see how they might translate to tennis. Here are some tips to keep in mind for the US Open:
- Know Your US Open History: Whether you’re betting on outright winners or head-to-head matches, be sure to take the time to review the certain players’ US Open track records. Some do quite well in an environment such as this, while others don’t. Also, keep in mind the overall performance of players on hard surfaces.
- Who’s Hot and Who’s Not: You’ll also want to look at how players have performed over their last few events. Those who have been advancing deep into tournaments could be in line to keep the hot streak going. On the other hand, those who suddenly don’t seem to be able to get out of their own way could be in for a tough time.
- What’s the Draw Look Like: The entire tournament field is laid out in bracket form on both the men’s and women’s sides. When scrolling through potential winners, take a gander at what they have ahead to see if any landmines are in the way. It’s also a good tool for head-to-head betting, as you can look ahead for matchups you like.
- News, Notes and Weather: As the tournament approaches, you’ll want to stay engaged with what’s going on and check out some detailed previews from sources you trust. When the US Open gets underway, stay on top of what’s happening. For example, player injuries can come up, and weather could impact the proceedings.
One other note to keep in mind: It’s always a good idea to have a budget in place. You can break it down based on what you’re interested in, such as a portion for outright winners, some for live betting and the rest for head-to-head matchups. There will be plenty of time to increase the stakes if things go well, so stay in your comfort zone when getting started.
Recent US Open winners
Over the past five years, we have been treated to some memorable duels in the US Open finals. There hasn’t been a repeat winner on the men’s side in a while. Roger Federer was the last to do it, winning every year from 2004-08. We’ll see if Dominic Thiem can turn the trick this time around. Here are the last five winners on the men’s side:
- 2020: Dominic Thiem over Alexander Zverev in five sets
- 2019: Rafael Nadal over Daniil Medvedev in five sets
- 2018: Novak Djokovic over Juan Martin del Potro in three sets
- 2017: Rafael Nadal over Kevin Anderson in three sets
- 2016: Stan Wawrinka over Novak Djokovic in four sets
For the women, there hasn’t been a repeat winner since Serena Williams pulled a three-peat from 2012-14. Naomi Osaka has won two of the last three and will be a favorite next time around, so we’ll see if she can break the streak. Here’s a look back at the past five winners on the women’s side of the draw:
- 2020: Naomi Osaka over Victoria Azarenka in three sets
- 2019: Bianca Andreescu over Serena Williams in two sets
- 2018: Naomi Osaka over Serena Williams in two sets
- 2017: Sloane Stephens over Madison Keys in two sets
- 2016: Angelique Kerber over Karolina Pliskova in three sets
How can I watch the US Open live?
The broadcasting rights for the US Open belong to ESPN. You’ll find tons of coverage on the main channel, as well as on ESPN2. Both of these channels are available in various cable, satellite and streaming packages.
You can also watch online and via the app with ESPN, but note that valid login credentials from your provider will be necessary. Additionally, enhanced coverage will be available on ESPN+, which is a separate subscription option.
Also, keep in mind that online sportsbooks provide enhanced coverage of the US Open and other tennis events.
How is the draw for the US Open determined?
On both the men’s and women’s sides, there are 128 players in the field for the US Open. The top 32 are determined by official rankings and receive an automatic invite. The top two seeds are placed on opposite ends of the bracket, so the only way they would cross paths would be if both reach the final.
The remaining seeded players — 3 through 32 — fill out other spots in the bracket in the days leading up to the tournament. Rankings also determine the entrants all the way up to spot 104. In a perfect world, the top 104 ranked players will be in the field, but that doesn’t always happen due to injuries, so it’s basically the top 104 available players.
Eight spots are reserved for wild cards, such as a promising junior player or an up-and-coming pro who just missed out on the rankings cut. The final 16 spots are filled from a qualifying event that takes place before the US Open. There are 128 players in this tournament, too, but just 16 will get to advance to the main event.
The dedicated website for the event, USOpen.org, is a great place to go to check out info on the upcoming draw, as well as additional news and notes surrounding the event.
Sportsbook rules for betting on US Open tennis
Each legal sportsbook in Illinois has a dedicated set of house rules for tennis betting. A number of practices are pretty standard across the industry, but there can be some differences in certain circumstances that may come up. Here’s an overview of the main points you need to know:
- Most operators require a minimum number of sets before they consider a match official for betting purposes.
- A player withdrawal prior to the event will lead to a voiding of futures bets on that player. As the tournament proceeds, a player withdrawing prior to the next match getting underway leads to a walkover for the opponent and a voided bet.
- Settlement of all bets is based on official scoring and results. This applies to all wagers, from futures to live betting and all points in between.
- If a match is delayed due to weather after getting underway, it will still remain live if it’s expected to be completed reasonably soon.
- All bets will remain active regardless of a change in course or surface unless expressly stated as otherwise in the bet listing.
That’s the basic gist, but we once again have to point out that unexpected circumstances can arise at times, such as a player retiring during a match due to injury. For the exact way the books you are playing on handle this and other unexpected situations, take the time to review the house rules.
US Open FAQ
The next edition of the US Open is scheduled for Aug. 30 to Sept. 12, 2021, in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center serves as the venue. It’s a sprawling space with three stadiums and 30+ hard courts. The 2019 edition attracted over 700,000 fans as the tournament played out.
The modern era of the tournament is from 1968 to the present. Over that time, we have seen a number of the sport’s legends put on a show at this event. On the men’s side, there’s a three-way tie for most titles with five, shared by Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. John McEnroe and Rafael Nadal are tied for second with four wins each. For the women, Serena Williams and Chris Evert are tied atop the leaderboard with six US Open championships. Steffi Graf is next up with five.
For the 2020 edition of the US Open, the total prize pool checked in at $53 million. Singles winners received $3 million, while it was $1.5 million to the runners-up. Semi- and quarter-finalists made a nice score as well with $800k and $425k awards, respectively. The prize pool dipped down from there, with $250,000 going to those who made the round of 16, down to $61,000 for the round of 128.
Once upon a time, the answer to this question was yes. These days, that’s not necessarily the case. While there are some great sportsbooks out in Sin City with talented oddsmakers setting the numbers, leading operators in legal states are dishing out odds that are right in line. As part of your US Open research, you can certainly compare the numbers out in the desert, but know that you’ll find similar lines here in Illinois.