US Open Tennis 2018: Schedule, Betting Odds, Draw and Preview

The final tennis grand slam of the 2018 season opens with similar storylines to the other three major championships. 

On the men's side, we're still waiting for the new generation of stars to close the door on the old guard after Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic combined to win the last seven majors. 

There's been more parity on the women's side recently, as seven players have captured the last seven major titles, but Serena Williams appears ready to re-establish her dominance at the top of the game. 

The men's and women's draw set the stage for an intriguing first week, and the second week could be chock full of must-see matchups. 

US Open Schedule

The U.S. Open schedule features morning and night sessions beginning at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET, respectively, from the start of the tournament on August 27 until September 5. 

The women's semifinals are scheduled to take place during a night session September 6, while the men's last four are penciled in to start at 4 p.m. ET September 7. 

The women's singles final will take place September 8 at 4 p.m. ET, with the men's singles final coming the next day at the same time.

Odds (via OddsShark)

Men's Draw 

Novak Djokovic (+250; Bet $100 to win $250) 

Rafael Nadal (+350) 

Roger Federer (+400) 

Alexander Zverev (+800)

Andy Murray (+1,200) 

Juan Martin del Potro (+1,200) 

Marin Cilic (+1,800) 

Nick Kyrgios (+2,000) 

Grigor Dimitrov (+2,000) 

Women's Draw

Serena Williams (+500) 

Simona Halep (+700) 

Angelique Kerber (+700)

Sloane Stephens (+1,000) 

Garbine Muguruza (+1,200) 

Caroline Wozniacki (+1,200) 

Elina Svitolina (+1,200) 

Karolina Pliskova (+1,400) 

Petra Kvitova (+1,400) 

Madison Keys (+1,400) 

Preview

Men's Singles

Nadal, Federer and Djokovic are once again at the forefront of the men's singles draw. 

Nadal faces an easier route to the final, with Juan Martin Del Potro and Grigor Dimitrov his top challengers to advance to the championship match. 

The left-hander faces a potentially difficult first-round clash with fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, who has slipped down the rankings to 148 in the world of late after reaching a career high of third in late 2013. Although Ferrer's ranking isn't as high as it used to be, he still has the potential to test his countryman. 

Ben Curtis/Associated Press

Djokovic and Federer are on a collision course for the quarterfinals after they were drawn in the seventh and eighth sections of the bracket. 

With two of the three favorites clustered together, Marin Cilic and Alexander Zverev have a chance to surge into the semifinals from the top half of the bottom bracket. 

John Isner and Jack Sock are the two seeded Americans in the field, while 20-year-old Frances Tiafoe could make some noise against No. 29 seed Adrian Mannarino in the first round. 

Andy Murray is also worth keeping an eye on in his return to Grand Slam competition after not featuring since Wimbledon 2017. He lurks in Del Potro's part of the bracket along with Fernando Verdasco and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Until one of the rising stars proves they are able to consistently challenge Nadal, Federer and Djokovic, the big three must be the championship picks. 

While it may feel like more of the same to some, a clash between Nadal and either Djokovic or Federer would be yet another must-watch spectacle on the sport's top stage. 

Women's Singles 

All eyes are on the top section of the women's singles bracket, where Simona Halep and the Williams sisters reside. 

Serena Williams is somehow the lowest-ranked member of the trio as the No. 17 seed, which makes little sense given her career success, even if she missed a year on maternity leave. 

Before the 23-time Grand Slam champion gets to the top-seeded Halep, she'll have to get through her sister Venus in the third round in the third round in what would be the most popular match during the first week of the tournament. 

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Defending champion Sloane Stephens is also in the top half of the bracket with two-time major champion Garbine Muguruza. 

That means only one one of Halep, the Williams sisters, Stephens, Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova or Elina Svitolina can make it to the final. 

Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber, Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova are among the favorites to advance in the bottom half of the draw. 

Although it would be wonderful to see as many high-profile names as possible left in the women's draw during the second week of the tournament, recent major results suggest that won't be the case. 

At Wimbledon, none of the top-10 seeds reached the quarterfinals, while three top-10 seeds advanced to the final eight at Roland Garros. 

While every major feels like Serena Williams' to lose, the women's draw boasts a deep roster of contenders who are all capable of making a run to the championship match. 

Williams is the obvious pick until we're proven wrong, but don't count out Halep, Kvitova or Wozniacki, while a first-time winner such as Svitolina or Pliskova could emerge as well.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.