US Open Men’s Singles Day 2 Odds and Picks – First Round August 31
- Looking for the rare calendar Grand Slam and major title No. 21 Novak Djokovic opens vs a qualifier
- The tightest battle between unseededs could be Sebastian Korda vs Nikoloz Basilashvili – a potential upset
- We break down some of these US Open first-round matchups and pick the best values
Novak Djokovic has been in the New York area for a week, keeping a fairly low profile before arguably the most historic tournament of his career.
If he wins – and he’s the overwhelming favorite going in – he will complete a rare calendar Grand Slam.
On the men’s side, it’s only been done by one player; Rod Laver did it twice: in 1962 during the “amateur” era, and again in 1969 during the Open era.
Also, with the Serb tied with the absent Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at 20 major titles, winning this US Open would give him the lead.
Perhaps for eternity.
US Open Men’s Singles Day 2 Odds – August 31
| Tuesday Matchups | Odds |
|---|---|
| [4] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Sam Querrey (USA) | -1600/+850 |
| [9] Pablo Carreño Busta (ESP) vs [Q] Maxime Cressy (USA) | -900/+575 |
| Jérémy Chardy (FRA) vs [6] Matteo Berrettini (ITA) | +255/-330 |
| Soonwoo Kwon (KOR) vs [22] Reilly Opelka (USA) | +275/-350 |
| [17] Gaël Monfils (FRA) vs Federico Coria (ARG) | -900/+550 |
| [25] Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs Lloyd Harris (RSA) | -230/+185 |
| Tennys Sandgren (USA) vs Ilya Ivashka (BLR) | +310/-400 |
| [WC] Max Purcell (AUS) vs [13] Jannik Sinner (ITA) | +750/-1400 |
| [10] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs Egor Gerasimov (BLR) | -700/+475 |
| Federico Delbonis (ARG) vs [7] Denis Shapovalov (CAN) | +675/-1100 |
| Sebastian Korda (USA) vs Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) | -260/+210 |
| Salvatore Caruso (ITA) vs Kei Nishikori (JPN) | +550/-800 |
| Taylor Fritz (USA) vs [14] Alex de Minaur (AUS) | +125/-155 |
| Mackenzie McDonald (USA) vs [27] David Goffin (BEL) | -265/+210 |
| Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) vs [WC] Jack Sock (USA) | -125/+105 |
| [Q] Oscar Otte (GER) vs [20] Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) | +240/-310 |
| Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs [WC] Emilio Nava (USA) | -290/+130 |
| Andreas Seppi (ITA) vs Marton Fucsovics (HUN) | +450/-650 |
| Yannick Hanfmann (GER) vs [31] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) | +360/-475 |
| [WC] Jenson Brooksby (USA) vs Mikael Ymer (SWE) | -265/+210 |
| Albert Ramos-Viñolas (ESP) vs Lucas Pouille (FRA) | -155/+125 |
| Denis Kudla (USA) vs Laslo Djere (SRB) | -215/+175 |
| Tallon Griekspoor (NED) vs Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) | +270/-350 |
| Jordan Thompson (AUS) vs Gianluca Mager (ITA) | -285/+225 |
| Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) vs Tommy Paul (USA) | +450/-600 |
| [28] Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs Vasek Pospisil (CAN) | -165/+235 |
| [21] Aslan Karatsev (RUS) vs Jaume Munar (ESP) | -390/+295 |
| Marco Cecchinato (ITA) vs [WC] Zachary Svajda (USA) | -320/+250 |
| Pablo Cuevas (URU) vs [WC] Ernesto Escobedo (USA) | +150/-185 |
| Steve Johnson (USA) vs [Q] Maximilian Marterer (GER) | -225/+180 |
| Corentin Moutet (FRA) vs Stefano Travaglia (ITA) | -155/+130 |
| [1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs [Q] Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune (DEN) | -8000/+1500 |
Odds as of Aug. 30 at DraftKings
Taylor Fritz vs Alex de Minaur Prediction
American Fritz has had some challenges in recent months. Notably, he had knee surgery but managed to return in record time to play Wimbledon.
Still, in his “home” Grand Slam, he’s the +125 underdog against No. 14 seed Alex de Minaur.
But he probably shouldn’t be; de Minaur is having a sub-par season. The Aussie has won two titles – in Antalya in January and then in Eastbourne the week before Wimbledon. Take those away, and he’s 12-17 for 2021.
Since that Eastbourne title, he’s won just one match.
De Minaur has never lost to Fritz. But he hasn’t played him since 2019.
Best Bet: Fritz in an upset (+125)
Novak Djokovic vs Holger Rune Prediction
With overwhelming odds to win (-8000), the money line bet is not worth spending much time on.
The -110 odds for the match to go either under or over 26.5 games are the place to be.
If you feel Rune can do better than, say, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in defeat, go over. If you think it’ll be a blowout, go under.
Preparations 💪🏼🎾🎾🎾
📸: Pete Staples @usopen #USOpen pic.twitter.com/7B7rR2Zd2r
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 28, 2021
It’s a night match at the Open, and it is the 18-year-old Dane’s Grand Slam debut (not just US Open debut).
He might well be a deer in the headlights. But he’s been groomed for this, and it feels as though he night make the over look good.
He won’t take a set, though.
Best Bet: Under 3.5 sets (-380)
Jenson Brooksby vs Mikael Ymer Prediction
The young American has played four best-of-five set matches in his career – three of them in New York, and one of them a shock four-set win over Tomas Berdych when he was still just 18.
Meanwhile, Ymer has played 11, including three five-setters, all of which he won.
But the 22-year-old Swede, who reached his first career ATP Tour final Saturday in Winston-Salem, is coming off a shellacking in that final.
It’s a quick turnaround, and he played a lot of tennis last week.
Best Bet: Brooksby for the win (-265)
Stephanie gets the straight dope from the tennis insiders. On court, she has represented her country internationally. A BA in journalism led to years on the MLB beat and a decade covering tennis globally. She's written for Postmedia, the Guardian, the New York Times and also publishes OpenCourt.ca.
