The first day of the US Open sees the men’s and women’s singles draws getting underway at Flushing Meadows with both defending champions getting their title defences started on what looks like a great day of action in New York.
Rafael Nadal and Sloane Stephens will both be looking to make it safely into the second round while world number one Simona Halep will be aiming to do likewise. That is a strong enough cast list but for those who want more we have Juan Martin del Potro, Kevin Anderson, Stan Wawrinka, Grigor Dimitrov and both Williams sisters on show on what should be a belting day of tennis.
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Arthur Ashe Stadium
The scheduling on Ashe has changed this year with just two matches in the day session and the match of the entire first round gets things going when Stan Wawrinka takes on Grigor Dimitrov. Venus Williams is the main attraction in the women’s match when she faces Svetlana Kuznetsova in another juicy first round match.
It is Venus’ sister Serena who starts up the night session on Ashe when she goes up against Magda Linette on her return to New York. The action on the main court concludes with the defending men’s champion Rafael Nadal taking on his Spanish compatriot David Ferrer in yet another top class looking match.
Louis Armstrong Stadium
The women’s world number one Simona Halep opens up play on the new Armstrong court. She takes on Kaia Kanepi in a tasty looking tussle before Andy Murray is back on the New York scene. He faces James Duckworth of Australia. Defending ladies champion Sloane Stephens plays in the third match of the night against Evgeniya Rodina to round off the day session.
Victoria Azarenka has the honour of opening up the first night session on Louis Armstrong when she plays Viktoria Kuzmova. Former men’s champion Juan Martin del Potro follows them when he takes on Donald Young in what should be an entertaining way of finishing the day on the second court.
Grandstand
Our outright pick Elina Svitolina is first up on the Grandstand court. She takes on American player Sachia Vickery before two Americans go at it in the men’s draw when John Isner takes on Bradley Klahn. Big serving Karolina Pliskova is third on court when she plays Zarina Diyas and then the action concludes under the lights on this court when the Canadian youngsters Denis Shapovalov goes up against the equally exciting Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Court 17
Jack Sock will be looking to revive his singles career when he plays Guido Andreozzi of Argentina in the first match on Court 17. Garbine Muguruza then gets her campaign underway when she plays Shuai Zhang. Two really good looking matches round of play on this court when Donna Vekic plays Anastasija Sevastova before Ryan Harrison goes up against the 2017 beaten finalist Kevin Anderson in the final match of the day.
Best of the Rest
As ever with a Grand Slam if you have a ground pass or access to all of the courts on a stream there is much to enjoy away from the main courts. Milos Raonic and Ash Barty are among the seeded players over on Court 5 while Dominic Thiem and Julia Goerges are in action over on Court 10. Two Brits are in action on Court 13 when Kyle Edmund and Cameron Norrie both play their first round matches while elsewhere Karen Khachanov, Borna Coric, Daria Gavrilova and Stefanos Tsitsipas are among the star names looking to make it through.
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Men’s Betting
I’m going to play three in the men’s draw on Monday. There is a lot of hype around Taylor Fritz but he hasn’t done a huge amount to justify it in recent times and I fancy the serve and volley variety of Mischa Zverev will get the job done against him. I wouldn’t think the German would need it but if he wants any tactical advice from his brother he should get it as Alexander Zverev took care of Fritz at Wimbledon. I’d make Mischa Zverev a warmer favourite than he is here and I’m happy to take him to win this one.
Steve Johnson could be up against it on Monday when he faces Denis Istomin. The American may come through but we shouldn’t underestimate the potential for him to be jaded after his run at Winston-Salem last week which ultimately ended in disappointment especially on what is forecasted to be a hot and humid day in New York. Istomin has enough class about him to stay close to Johnson at the very least and if the American is tired and Istomin starts well he could even go on and win the match. I’ll side with the fresher man to remain within 5.5 games here.
I’m expecting a lengthier match than expected when Ryan Harrison goes up against Kevin Anderson late in the day. With the light dipping the atmosphere should rise out on Court 17 and that should see both raise their game. I would expect Anderson to come through but he has had some worrying defeats in recent times. Ryan Harrison is more than capable and should be primed to give this a good go. I fancy four or five sets here which should be enough to get the 38.5 games line covered.
Women’s Betting
In the match of the day on Arthur Ashe I’m expecting a close battle between Venus Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Williams might not be in the best form but we’ve seen for the last couple of seasons that she peaks for the big events and we saw earlier in the year how the American hard courts can bring out the best in her. Kuznetsova’s best days are behind her now but she won Washington earlier in the month which should have given her a bit of confidence. These two met in a tight match in Miami last year and this looks to have three sets, or two close sets written all over it in my eye. I fancy over 21.5 games to land here.
Later in the evening Donna Vekic looks a good bet to me. She might be 0-3 against Anastasija Sevastova but the Washington finalist is in good form. That run caught the eye as did her first round win over Sloane Stephens at Wimbledon. The Croatian can be erratic at times but if she reins it in a little bit she has the power to see off the Latvian whose best form this year has come on the dirt and who has won just one Grand Slam match this year.
Daily Accumulator
We’ve been asked to provide a daily accumulator for the Grand Slams so we’ll do that throughout the US Open. The result of these won’t go on our stats but I’ll keep a record in each daily thread. There will be little or no reasoning either. Here is today’s acca.
Fernando Verdasco win
Cameron Norrie win
Karolina Pliskova win
Denis Shapovalov win
Viictoria Azarenka win
£10 pays £51.19
Tips
Back M.Zverev to beat T.Fritz for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Coral
Back him here:
Back D.Istomin (+5.5 games) to beat S.Johnson for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with LeoVegas
Back him here:
WON – Back R.Harrison vs K.Anderson – Over 38.5 games for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Boylesports
Back it here:
WON – Back S.Kuznetsova vs V.Williams – Over 21.5 games for a 4/10 stake at 1.89 with 888sport
Back it here:
Back D.Vekic to beat A.Sevastova for a 3/10 stake at 2.50 with William Hill
Back her here:
WON – Back Daily Accumulator at Unibet
Back it here:
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