US Open Day 5 Round 3 Men’s Singles Odds & Picks

• Seven of the top 10 seeded players will be playing a match on Friday
• Novak Djokovic headlines the day facing Jan-Lennard Struff
• The times of the matches are still TBD but we’re previewing our three best bets for Friday here

The US Open is now well underway as we are entering day five of the tournament. Eight matches will be played Friday on the men’s side with many different matchups and the opportunity for upsets. Of the eight matches, three have been highlighted and previewed below.

US Open Day 5 Round 3 Men’s Singles Odds

All odds taken Sept. 3

Pick 1: Novak Djokovic vs. Jan-Lennard Struff

As we all know, Djokovic is coming off a win at the Western & Southern Open. There was some concern that fatigue could play into his time at the US Open. This third round match will be his seventh match in just ten days. But he has barely shown any signs of slowing down, and he was able to come back after losing his opening set in his second round match against Kyle Edmund. He will have to show signs of exhaustion eventually, but until then he has extended his perfect start to the season, bringing it to 25-0.

25-0 in 2020.

The man is literally unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/I9uNumaRuz

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2020

This will be a rematch of the two’s quarterfinal match at the Western & Southern Open just last week. In that meeting, Djokovic dropped only a total of four games.

Unlike Djokovic, 28th seed Struff has not dropped a set at the US Open this year. He defeated both his opponents, Pedro Martinez Porteo and Michael Mmoh in straight sets.

Djokovic holds a commanding 4-0 head to head record against Struff going into this third-round match. Struff has only managed to take one set against the World No. 1, and that happened in the Australian Open earlier this year.

To be the first player to beat Djokovic on tour this year, Struff will have to play near-perfect tennis.

Pick: Djokovic -2.5 sets (-275)

Pick 2: Denis Shapovalov vs. Taylor Fritz

The youngest match of the day will be played between 21-year old Canadian Denis Shapovalov and 22-year old American Taylor Fritz. The good friends are seeded relatively close, but it’s Shapovalov who has the slight upper hand going into the match. Shapovalov has found success at the US Open over the years, where he has recorded nine of his 14 Grand Slam match wins.

This isn’t the first time the young stars have seen each other. The Canadian Shapovalov holds the 2-0 record in their head to head matchups, having won both matches in straight sets. But this will be the first time they seen each other at a major.

Fired up. Moving on.

Denis Shapovalov defeats Soonwoo 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 and is through to Round 3.@denis_shapo I #USOpen pic.twitter.com/SQyQBQBno7

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2020

The left-handed Shapovalov has a very unique style of game, including a single-handed backhand. He’s able to play the whole court, which has thrown his opponents off in the past. Fritz has the opportunity to take advantage of Shapovalov’s inconsistent periods if they happen. In the past, Shapovalov has found himself making unforced errors that ultimately can’t come back from.

Shapovalov is the best bet here. He’s had a really good tournament so far, he has an impressive record at the US Open and has defeated Fritz both times they’ve seen each other. This won’t be a straight-set win, expect five sets.

Best Bet: Shapovalov (-150)

Pick 3: Filip Krajinovic vs. David Goffin

Seventh seed David Goffin will face 26th seed Filip Krajinovic in the third round. Despite the seeding and their ATP ranking, Krajinovic is actually the slight favorite going into this match. Goffin ranks tenth in the world, while Krajinovic is 26.

Krajinovic has had a great US Open so far. He’s won both his matches in straight sets, starting off strong. Goffin has struggled a bit more, having a slower start, and seeing his first two matches go four sets.

This will be the fourth meeting between the two players. Goffin did win their first-ever meeting in 2017, but Krajinovic holds a 2-1 head to head record.

Four years, four spots in Round 3.

David Goffin is the model of consistency. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/GdE5kiqfg2

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2020

Goffin has been very consistent in the past year but has yet to find success at the US Open. He has a strong consistent baseline game, and despite a slower start to the tournament, Goffin’s consistency is what will be able to bring him to the next round. It’s going to be a long back and forth battle between the two, expect it to go five sets.

Best Bet: Goffin (+138), Over 4.5 sets (+1000)