Venus Williams and Karolina Muchova will meet in the first round of women's action at the US Open on Monday, August 25. The match will start at 7:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
The return of the seven-time Grand Slam champion, two years after last playing in a major tournament, is one of the highlights of this initial round at Flushing Meadows.
Find my US Open First Round preview and Williams vs Muchova prediction for Monday below.
Venus Williams and Karolina Muchova Prediction
- Williams vs Muchova Pick: Williams +5.5 (+120)
My Williams vs Muchova best bet is on Venus Williams to cover the spread. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live US Open odds page.
Williams vs Muchova Odds
| Venus Williams Odds | +800 |
| Karolina Muchova Odds | -1200 |
| Spread | Williams +5.5 (+120), Muchova -5.5 (-165) |
| Over/Under | 18.5 (-125/-110) |
| Williams-Muchova H2H | 0-1 |
| Time | How to Watch | Monday, 7:00 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Odds via DraftKings | |
Carlos Avilan's Williams vs Muchova Preview, Prediction
Venus Williams Betting Preview
Never mind the outcome, Venus Williams's return to a Grand Slam will be a remarkable event. She will be the first 45-year-old to play singles at the US Open since 1981.
The seven-time major winner and two-time US Open champion last played here two years ago, but she decided to make another comeback just last month after playing her last competitive match in March 2024.
Williams reappeared in Washington and surprised everyone by beating fellow American Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4. Although she lost in the next round, Williams showed a good enough level to stay motivated and garner praise.
She moved on to Cincinnati, where she lost to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-4, and will now play in the US Open, via invitation, where she will face a familiar face in the first round.
Karolina Muchova Betting Preview
If this were a career comparison, there would not be much to think about.
Muchova has won only one singles title in her career: a WTA 500 in Seoul on hard court in 2019. Nevertheless, the Czech is the 11th seed in New York and has performed well in Grand Slams.
Muchova was a Wimbledon finalist in 2023 and, more importantly, played two US Open semifinals in 2023 and 2024.
That's enough of a resume to warrant being the favorite by quite some margin, especially against a player who was retired for the last year and a half.
On top of that, Muchova already faced Williams here in their only matchup ever. She beat Williams in this same round five years ago 6-3, 7-5.
Williams vs Muchova Predictions, Betting Analysis
Despite all the media attention and nostalgia surrounding her return to Flushing Meadows, Williams will have the support of the crowd and the experience to know how to navigate these circumstances.
However, her form is the only thing that will eventually dictate the outcome. Does she have enough? That's the challenge of trying to predict the outcome of such an unusual occurrence.
Muchova not only beat her five years ago, but she also did it this week as fate paired them in the mixed doubles draw as well.
On Tuesday, the Czech and Andrey Rublev defeated Williams and Reilly Opelka 4-2 and 5-4(4) in the mixed doubles' first round.
The line spread of +5.5 gives Williams enough room to cover if she can actually compete at Muchova's level, which will be the main doubt for this matchup tonight.
At a great value, and considering all other options, it's worth the risk.
Pick: Williams +5.5 (+120, DraftKings)
