Critical Notes

The defending champion, Maria Sharapova, made it look easy in her opening match. (AI Wire photo)

Maria Sharapova began her run at this year’s U.S. Open the way she ended last year, with a victory before an adoring crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The No. 2 seed in the women’s draw only needed 50 minutes to put away Roberta Vinci, 6-0, 6-1, in the first round on Tuesday night. Sharapova, whose U.S. Open odds are 5/1 to repeat, also wowed fans with her dress, a little red number that featured 600 sparkling crystals.

“It’s red this year, like the Big Apple, in honor of the city,” Sharapova told the audience during her courtside interview after the match. The response was predictable — wild cheers.

Other women advancing on Tuesday included No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova and former champ Martina Hingis.

In the men’s draw, Andy Roddick, the No. 5 seed, capped the night with a straight-set victory over his good friend, Justin Gimelstob. Roddick was a whopping -8000 moneyline favorite. The sure bet (it would take $8,000 to win $100) proved to be just that as Roddick, the 2003 Open champ, ousted Gimelstob, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3. Despite what the moneyline said, this was a dangerous match because Gimelstob, 30, said this would be his last event before retiring. Who knows what kind of effort a player in that circumstance might come up with?

He put up a fight in the first set before Roddick dispatched him with unreturnable serves and forehand winners. Roddick holds U.S. Open odds of 20/1 to win it all and he has won 34 matches on hard-court this year, the most of any player on the ATP Tour.

For U.S. Open odds for the men’s and women’s draw throughout the tournament, visit the Bodog Sportsbook every day.