Serena Williams hopes to delay her impending retirement at least a few more days when she meets World No. 2 Anett Kontaveit in the second-round of the 2022 U.S. Open on Wednesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows. The 40-year-old legend, who is expected to make this tournament her last, began her quest for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Danka Kovinic in the opening round on Monday. Williams is seeking her seventh U.S. Open championship and first since 2014.
The estimated start time for Williams vs. Kontaveit is 7 p.m. ET. Kontaveit is a -250 favorite (risk $250 to win $100) in the latest Kontaveit vs. Williams odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while Williams is a +190 underdog. The over/under for total games is set at 20.5, with Kontaveit favored by 3.5 games. Before you make any Williams vs. Kovinic picks or 2022 U.S. Open predictions, you need to see what tennis expert Jose Onorato has to say.
Onorato grew up playing competitive tennis in Caracas, Venezuela. After coming to the U.S., he trained with famed coach Nick Bollettieri at IMG Academy in Florida and faced players like Robert Farah, now one of the world's top-ranked doubles players.
Onorato, who holds dual degrees in finance and economics from the University of Miami, does extensive research before placing any tennis bet. He studies current form, players' tendencies on a particular surface, weather conditions and many other relevant factors. That systematic approach helped Onorato go 69-46 - up 54.98 units - from January through July.
Now, Onorato has scrutinized the latest U.S. Open 2022 odds and released his coveted best bet for the Williams vs. Kontaveit second-round match. He's sharing his pick and analysis only at SportsLine.
Serena Williams vs. Anett Kontaveit preview
Williams' 102nd career victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the most by any player since its opening in 1997, was a solid one. She won 76% of her first-serve points and 69% of the points on Kovinic's second serve, while generating 11 break points and breaking the native of Montenegro five times. But Williams, who hasn't won a Grand Slam title since the 2017 Australian Open, has a difficult task ahead of her as she has failed to advance past the second round in six of her last seven tournaments.
Kontaveit is hoping her dominant 6-3, 6-0 triumph over Jaqueline Cristian in the first round is a sign that her struggles since reaching the final of the Hamburg European Open in July are over. The 26-year-old Estonian won her first two matches in Prague later that month before losing to Anastasia Potapova in the quarterfinals and made first- and second-round exits in Toronto and Cincinnati in August. Kontaveit, whose best showing in a Grand Slam event was an appearance in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Australian Open, has yet to get past the fourth round at Flushing Meadows in seven previous attempts. See who Onorato is backing right here.
How to make Williams vs. Kontaveit picks
In addition to his analysis, Onorato has released a best bet for the second-round match. Be sure to see Onorato's pick and analysis before locking in your 2022 U.S. Open picks for Kontaveit vs. Williams.
Who wins Williams vs. Kontaveit in the second round of the 2022 U.S. Open? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see Jose Onorato's best bet for Kontaveit vs. Williams, all from the tennis expert who knows the game from a player's perspective.
