US Open 2014: Six huge-priced outsiders to follow at Flushing Meadows

Elina Svitolina is a huge talent trading at a big price

There are some fancy prices available on the majority of players lining up at Flushing Meadows and James Boswell can't resist picking a half-dozen to back for US Open glory...

It's nearly September and as another great summer of sport draws to a close, tennis gives us one last hurrah with its fourth major, the US Open. Always an enthralling event, Flushing Meadows is the perfect way to close an excellent season of women's sport in particular. Here's a look at who might provide us with that classic underdog-come-good story in the land of opportunity.

Not long ago, Caroline Wozniacki could hardly have been considered an underdog. However, her high-profile heartache and accompanying slump in form leading up to her much-publicised break up with Rory McIlroy have seen the former world number one tumbling down the rankings. There have been signs of a turnaround for the former US Open finalist however, as a victory in the Istanbul Cup gave her her first title since breaking it off and good performances in the Cincinatti and Montreal lead-up tournaments have set her in good stead for the big one. Her erstwhile fianc's excellence in his field could just provide Wozniacki with the impetus to win her first major and she's the first longshot in the book at 29.028/1.

The best odds of the draw award has to go to Flavia Pennetta. Almost a perennial quarter finalist until 2013, she broke her rhythm by reaching the semis last year and logic would dictate that she should go one step further this year to the final. Facetiousness aside however, her first tournament win in four years at Indian Wells was also her first since an injury-enforced absence in 2012 and was a major announcement of her return to the scene. Beating both top seeds Li Na and Agnieszka Radwanska on her way to that trophy, Pennetta is wonderful value at 420.0419/1 for a run this year.

Svetlana Kuznetsova (210.0209/1 to back) is one woman who doesn't need to be told how to win a major. It may have been ten years since the Russian lifted the trophy in New York, but experience never leaves you and Kuznetsova is another player who looks to be discovering some of her old form. As well as a good run in Cincinnati, where she shocked Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard, she demolished the field at the Citi Open in Washington without dropping a set until the final. 

Beaten finalist at that event, Kurumi Nara, is an outside bet for Flushing Meadows at 1000.0n/a. She was still in school while Kuznetsova was winning the US, but she didn't look like she had anything to learn from the elder stateswoman as she fought back from a set and three love down to force a decider. Nara has rocketed through the rankings this year, aided by progression through the first round of every major and a first WTA event victory in Rio. Her meteoric rise doesn't look like stopping here.

French number one Alize Cornet has had a great year on the hard courts yet arrives at Flushing Meadows as a 560.0559/1 shot. From the last 16 at the prestigious Indian Wells and a tournament win in Katowice, where she beat top seed Agnieszka Radwanska, Cornet moved on to two huge wins against world number one Serena Williams, at Dubai and more impressively at Wimbledon. She's a big game player and has all of the skills to get to the latter parts of the tournament, and maybe push it all the way.

A final outside shot is Elina Svitolina. Winner at the Baku Cup for the second year running, Svitolina made a big impact recently in Cincinnati, where she reached the quarters, beating Kvitova and Suarrez-Navarro on the way. A junior grand slam winner, she is making her way into the big time with some panache, particularly on the hard courts. One to watch, she'd be another huge winner at 420.0419/1 to back.

Recommended Bets
Caroline Wozniacki @ 29.028/1
Svetlana Kuznetsova @ 210.0209/1
Flavia Pennetta @ 420.0419/1
Kurumi Nara @ 1000.0n/a
Alize Cornet @ 560.0559/1
Elina Svitolina @ 420.0419/1