Novak Djokovic can become the first male tennis player to complete the Calendar Slam since 1969 with a US Open men’s singles title.

It’s more than just an opportunity. Djokovic is expected to do it.

At -150 to win the men’s singles title, Djokovic is on track to be the largest pre-tournament betting favourite to win the US Open since Roger Federer won it at -200 in 2007.

He’s +710 to win the title without dropping a single set.

Here is the Morning Coffee for Monday, Aug. 30, 2021.

US Open futures

The big three of Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal have rotated as pre-tournament betting favourites in all but one major tournament dating back to 2005, per SportsOddsHistory.com.

The lone exception was the 2009 Australian Open, when Andy Murray was +200 to win it. 

Federer and Nadal will both miss the remainder of the 2021 season due to injuries. Their absences contributed to Djokovic being an even bigger pre-tournament favourite.

Daniil Medvedev (+430) and Alexander Zverev (+650) are considered the biggest obstacles in the way of Djokovic’s Calendar Slam pursuit as the second and third choices to win the men’s singles title.

Stefanos Tsitsipas (+1200) and Matteo Berrettini (+2900) round out the top five choices to win it. Canadian Denis Shapovalov is the seventh choice at 50-to-1.

Djokovic already held all four major titles simultaneously when he won four straight majors from 2015 Wimbledon to the 2016 French Open.

Now he has a chance to do something he’s never done.

Here’s what his road to the title looks like:

Meanwhile, World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty has the potential to do something that’s only been done twice before as the betting favourite to win the women’s singles title.

If Barty wins, she would join Serena Williams and Hana Mandlikova as the only players – female or male – to win each of their first three major titles on different surfaces.

Barty is +360 to win the women’s singles title. She’s +210 to reach the final.

Naomi Osaka is the second choice at +600.

Aryna Sabalenka (+1400), Iga Swiatek (+1400), Karolina Pliskova (+1800), Coco Gauff (+1800) and Barbora Krejcikova (+1800) round out the top five choices.

Canadian Bianca Andreescu is right behind them after her odds to win the US Open lengthened from +1400 to +2200 over the past two weeks.

Andreescu is +1600 to reach the final.

Harris returns in Blue Bombers win

Reigning Grey Cup MVP Andrew Harris provided a spark for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in an 18-16 win over the Calgary Stampeders on Sunday.

A brilliant performance from Winnipeg’s rookie kicker might have been the difference.

Marc Liegghio went 4-for-4, including a 45-yard field goal with 37 seconds left in regulation to put the Blue Bombers ahead by two.

Rene Paredes missed a 52-yard field goal on the final play of the game as the Stampeders fell short but covered as a 6.5-point road dog.

Harris ran for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Winnipeg improved to 3-0 straight up at IG Field.

CFL favourites went 3-0 straight up in Week 4.

Meanwhile, all three games stayed under the total.

Twelve of the first 15 games of the season have stayed under the total.

Cantlay wins BMW Championship

Patrick Cantlay (+2500) beat Bryson DeChambeau in a six-hole playoff to win the BMW Championship on Sunday.

It’s the first time ever that multiple golfers shot -27 or better in a 72-hole PGA Tour event.

In the end, it was Cantlay that came out on top.

With the win, Cantlay will enter the TOUR Championship at 10-under par, which leaves him two strokes clear of Tony Finau.

Cantlay is also three strokes up on DeChambeau entering the finale.

The winner of the TOUR Championship earns a $15 million bonus.

MLB favourites stay hot

MLB favourites went a combined 29-15 over the weekend to continue their torrid pace in the month of August.

After a mini two-game win streak over the Los Angeles Angels, the Baltimore Orioles reverted to their losing ways with three straight losses to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays improved to 19-6 in the month of August.

The New York Yankees dropped back-to-back games against the Oakland Athletics, which allowed Tampa Bay to extend their lead atop the American League East to six games.

As of this morning, Tampa Bay is -350 to win the AL East. The Yankees are +310 to win the division.

The Rays will welcome the Boston Red Sox to town for a four-game set to open the week. 

Meanwhile, the Orioles will visit the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game set before heading to New York to face the Yankees to close out the week.

Baltimore is 21-45 on the road this season. The Orioles are currently the biggest underdog on board for Monday at +290 on the money line.

The Blue Jays are -360 to win with Robbie Ray scheduled to start the series opener.