- Novak Djokovic has won three major tournaments this year and has -150 odds to the US Open, the fourth.
NEW YORK - Novak Djokovic lost his chance at the Golden Slam when he failed to win Olympic Gold in Tokyo. This was the first blemish on what has been a sublime 2021 for Djokovic, as he has won the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon.
Only the US Open stands in his way, and with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal out of the tournament, he is the outright favorite.
2021 US Open Betting Odds
- Novak Djokovic -150
- Daniil Medvedev +400
- Alexander Zverev +700
- Stefanos Tsitsipas +900
- Andrey Rublev +2500
- Jannik Sinner +2500
- Matteo Berrettini +2500
How could he not be? Djokovic has only ever had two peers in the sport, and neither of them are playing in this tournament.
Beyond that, Federer has been on the downswing for a while now, and Djokovic claimed a victory over Nadal on Nadal’s favored clay surface in the French Open - suggesting that perhaps he has no peers at all anymore.
The next favored men at US Open sportsbooks potentially in his way are Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Zverev was the man who knocked him out of the Olympics, with another loss to Pablo Carreno Busta costing him even a bronze medal.
Djokovic reacted with anger during the loss to Carreno Busta, receiving a warning for smashing the net post with his racket. His anger could derail him at this stage, but Djokovic seems at peace with the result, and claims that the result could make him stronger.
"I don't regret coming to the Olympics at all," said Djokovic after his tough run. "Everything happens for a reason…I know that these losses have usually made me stronger."
The Matchups
Djokovic holds a 6-3 head to head advantage over Tsitsipas, a 5-3 head to head advantage over Zverev, and 4-3 advantage over Medvedev. Combined, Djokovic’s three biggest contenders have a 9-15 record against him - not an ideal situation, but far from a guaranteed win for Djokovic.
Still, he is favored significantly, and looking at the field opposing him, it’s hard to argue that he shouldn’t be. Online gambling fans should be paying attention to the US Open as Djokovic makes his run at a Grand Slam.