Dinara Safina, recent Beijing Silver Medalist and sister of our men´s tip Marat, has all the traits to make a bold challenge at the forthcoming US Open.

The big serving Russian has been in brilliant recent form with tour wins in Los Angeles and Montreal and rates an outstanding bet at tennis odds of 9/2.

Since arriving on the professional scene her career graph shows a steady upward curve with her best professional achievement to date a French Open final earlier this season.

But her recent successes, coupled with positive memories of a QF finish at Flushing Meadows in 2006 (she also won the doubles event last term), means she rates as a serious customer over the forthcoming fortnight.

Have a nibble with those totesport tennis betting odds on Safina.

With Maria Sharapova absent through injury there is no doubt that front runners Venus and Serena Williams will fancy their chances, as will Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic (all of whom are available at single figure odds).

But at much bigger sports odds have a look at young Dane Caroline Wozniacki.

Only 18 she claimed the Nordea Nordic Light Open at the start of August and arrives in New York in confident mood.

The daughter of Polish parents is a certain future star and it would be no surprise to see her make a real mark in New York.

At online sports betting odds of 33/1 she has the class to make a bold run to the latter stages.

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