Tennis odds: U.S. Open women's

Ana Ivanovic may be the top seed, but this year’s U.S. Open, which begins Monday, is mainly about the Williams sisters to American tennis fans despite the fact neither has won this title since 2002 (they combined for four straight from 1999-2002).

Serena is the WagerWeb.com favorite at +300, while sister Venus is one of the third favorites at +400. Let’s get one thing out of the way first: The sisters can’t meet in the finals as they did at Wimbledon (won by Venus), as they are in the same bracket in New York. The two, who just won the Olympic doubles gold medal, would meet in the quarterfinals.

The U.S. Open’s hardcourt is Serena’s preferred surface, even though she hasn’t been past the quarterfinals of the Open since she last won it in 2002. But with defending champion Justine Henin retired and Maria Sharapova out with a shoulder injury, this could be Serena's chance.

“I'm really excited for the Open," she said. "I feel like I'm playing really solid and much better than I have been all year, to be honest. I really look forward to it.”

Venus has the more difficult road to the quarterfinals, if only because Agnieszka Radwanska, who reached the fourth round last year (and defeated Sharapova along the way), awaits in the fourth round. The highest seeds in Serena's quarter are Agnes Szavay (No. 13) and Nicole Vaidisova (No. 20), two talented players who aren’t having good years.The Williams’ side of the draw is by far the hardest. In fact, should the seedings go to plan, the quarterfinals of that side of the draw would see Ivanovic (+350 on WagerWeb.com) face the woman she beat in the French Open final, Olympic silver medalist Dinara Safina, who is playing as well as anyone and is +400. Ivanovic is also dealing with a nagging right thumb injury that forced her to withdraw from the Olympic tournament. The winner of the Ivanovic-Safina match would play the winner of the Williams match.

Ivanovic's fellow Serb and second-seed Jelena Janokovic looks to have an easier route to the semifinals with eighth-seed Vera Zvonareva her likely opponent in the last eight.

Bet on the U.S. Open at WagerWeb.com