The 37-year-old is now as short as 5/2 to win her first Grand Slam since 2008.
20-years-ago, Venus Williams competed in her first ever Grand Slam final at the US Open. She went on to lose to Martina Hingis in straight sets, but the teenager had announced herself to the tennis world.
The next couple of years saw her falter at the semi-final stage but in 2000 and 2001, she managed to get her hands on the US Open trophy. Since those two triumphant years at Flushing Meadows, she has only managed to reach the final once and the semi-finals have evaded her since 2010. Until now that is.
Despite having reached the final of the Australian Open and Wimbledon already this term, Venus was still priced at odds of 22/1 before the tournament had begun. These odds look even more generous when you consider her sister Serena is not competing in the event.
The 37-year-old’s odds have tumbled through each round she has progressed, and before her quarter final match she was still available at 14/1 with one bookmaker. Petra Kvitova was odds-on to defeat Venus and make the last four, but it was Williams who took the match in a third set tie-break.
Since that victory, 69% of all bets placed through Oddschecker have been on the two-time US Open champion to win her eighth Grand Slam. The bookies also reacted to her impressive display against the Czech, slashing her odds to as short as 5/2. The American joins world number one Karolina Pliskova at the top of the market, both available at a best price of 3/1.
Oddschecker spokesman, George Elek "Venus Williams has continued her impressive year in Grand Slams at Flushing Meadows, rolling back the years to dispatch of all those thrown at her so far. She crumbled in the Wimbledon Final against Garbine Muguruza, but punters are happy to forgive that performance and are backing her in numbers to win her eighth slam."
