OTW Extra Email Archive - August 2026
Notes from the Tour: The next 'Raducanu moment'...
Wednesday 26th August 2026
The US Open has seen many a big-price upset in recent years…
I’ve been going through the New York numbers today. All part of our big-odds prep for next week’s Grand Slam event…
With the US Open the last Major of the year, sometimes the star names are starting to flag after a long season & gruelling summer. Making the favourites potentially vulnerable by the time that the US Open rolls around in late August…
I’ve been keeping a record of tournament Outright Winner odds for several years. The recent rollcall of women’s US Open finalists shows a pattern not only of big prices – but also of first-time Major champions. The two things usually go hand in hand…
2025
Champion: Aryna Sabalenka @ 3/1
Runner-Up: Amanda Anisimova @ 22/1
2024
Champion: Aryna Sabalenka @ 2/1
Runner-Up: Jessica Pegula @ 16/1 – first Grand Slam final
2023
Champion: Coco Gauff @ 7/1 – first Grand Slam title
Runner-Up: Aryna Sabalenka @ 5/1
2022
Champion: Iga Swiatek @ 4/1
Runner-Up: Ons Jabeur @ 25/1
2021
Champion: Emma Raducanu @ 100/1 – first Grand Slam title
Runner-Up: Leylah Fernandez @ 250/1 – first Grand Slam final
2020
Champion: Naomi Osaka @ 11/2
Runner-Up: Victoria Azarenka @ 22/1
2019
Champion: Bianca Andreescu @ 14/1 – first Grand Slam title
Runner-Up: Serena Williams @ 5/1
2018
Champion: Naomi Osaka @ 50/1 – first Grand Slam title
Runner-Up: Serena Williams @ 6/1
2017
Champion: Sloane Stephens @ 40/1 – first Grand Slam title
Runner-Up: Madison Keys @ 16/1 – first Grand Slam final
2016
Champion: Angelique Kerber @ 10/1
Runner-Up: Karolina Pliskova @ 33/1 – first Grand Slam final
2015
Champion: Flavia Pennetta @ 200/1 – first Grand Slam title
Runner-Up: Roberta Vinci @ 500/1 – first Grand Slam final
Focus on first-timers…
Those recent women’s US Open results highlight a trend towards newcomers to Major finals, competing for the big late-summer silverware…
Add in that fact that this year, at the last two ‘Slams, we’ve also seen youngsters making a first-time statement…
Mirra Andreeva won a maiden Major at the French Open. And then fellow Ones to Watch name, Linda Noskova, lifted the trophy at Wimbledon last month – in her first ever Grand Slam final.
Those are some exciting stats. And on the first-time winners front, I’ve already advised not one but two women’s Outright Winner, Each Way picks for the US Open 2026 – which starts this Sunday, 30th August…
Those two ladies are currently trading at top prices of 100/1 & 80/1 for one, and 150/1 for the other…
Watch out for Kristina…
A quick note today on a (very) young player to look out for. Age 16, Kristina Liutova made history by winning a debut WTA title in Memphis recently, as a 40/1 shot…
The Russian teenager returned to competitive action by winning in the 1st round of US Open Qualifying yesterday.
Liutova plays in round two tonight, on her quest to reach a Grand Slam main draw for the first time. One to watch for sure – now, and in years to come.
P.S
If you followed last week’s advice on Frances Tiafoe for the men’s US Open, then you’ll be sitting on a nice 100/1 ticket as we head to New York…
Tiafoe got to the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati last weekend. And along with world no.1 Jannik Sinner withdrawing injured from the US Open, Tiafoe is now down to 33/1 in the Outright Winner market.
For more big odds and early-bird info like that – if you’re not a member yet: join the club here…
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone