US Open Tennis Tips & Predictions
The final Grand Slam of the season takes the players Stateside for the US Open and, on the back of a gruelling campaign, it is often the major tournament that throws up the strangest results.
Novak Djokovic is the defending champion in the men’s draw but the last five US Open’s have been won by someone different while Naomi Osaka is the only double female champion since Serena Williams claimed her sixth success in 2014.
That suggests it can sometimes pay to think outside the box at Flushing Meadows, especially in the women’s draw where competition is fierce with a number of up-and-coming talents.
Spanish sensation set for a five-star performance
Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are currently well above the rest in the men’s game and it would go down as a big surprise were one of that illustrious trio not to get their hands on the US Open trophy.
They have claimed the last nine Grand Slam titles between them and this should be 10, with Alcaraz the one most fancied to deliver the goods.
Djokovic is the reigning champion and he will still be on a high after he claimed Olympic gold in Paris earlier this month, but only four of his 24 Grand Slam titles have come in New York.
World number one Sinner was a champion last time out in Cincinnati, a tournament that Alcaraz fell at the first hurdle to Gael Monfils, but five visits to the US Open have yielded only one quarter-final spot.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, has won the last two Grand Slam titles at the French Open and Wimbledon, taking his tally to four majors in his last seven appearances, and he can peak for the showpiece events.
Prior to winning the French Open, Alcaraz had lost in the quarter-final of Madrid to Andrey Rublev, while his Wimbledon win came on the back of a last-16 exit at Queen’s Club to Jack Draper.
That means bettors should ignore his Cincinnati showing and expect him to be in the same vein of form which inspired him to the last two Grand Slam titles.
Tip 1: Carlos Alcaraz to win the US Open @ 7/5
Zheng edging closer to landmark victory
World number two Aryna Sabalenka heads the betting in the women’s draw after bouncing back to form with silverware in Cincinnati. However, it could pay to look a little further down the list and there is plenty in favour for Qinwen Zheng, despite her suffering a third-round exit in Cincinnati.
That may have come too quickly after her Olympic gold medal in Paris but the Chinese ace was runner-up to Sabalenka at the Australian Open in January and is a player of immense potential.
The 21-year-old is improving all the time and, having also been a US Open quarter-finalist last season, it shouldn’t be long until she gets her maiden Grand Slam title. And with a bit of luck with the draw, it may be here in New York.
Tip 2: Qinwen Zheng to win the women’s US Open each-way @ 20/1
Rising star Andreeva could live up to her promise
Having finished runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon, Jasmine Paolini is a fascinating contender, but her Cincinnati defeat to Mirra Andreeva suggests she may be the one to focus on.
Andreeva, at only 17 years of age, has the world at her feet and there is little doubt that in time she will get the opportunity to compete for Grand Slam silverware.
The Russian has already made the semi-final of a Grand Slam, doing so at the French Open earlier in the season, while she claimed her first WTA Tour title at the Iasi Open in July.
Andreeva defeated Emma Navarro, Karolina Pliskova and Paolini in Cincinnati last time out before bumping into world number one Iga Swiatek, who was forced to come from a set down.
That form looks strong and there is a feeling that she will thrive in a big atmosphere, with the crowd almost certain to take to her passionate approach.