The US Open moves toward the second week and the final knockout rounds after a scintillating Week 1 of tennis at Flushing Meadows. The first week was chock full of action in both the men’s and women’s betting games. There was no shortage of drama, phenomenal contests, or stunning upsets.
In this column, we’ll be looking at the men’s game. Discussing some of the highlights of the first week and the developing Tennis news storylines and key injuries that have had an impact on the draw and tennis odds up to this point. These include Stefanos Tsitsipas’ and Taylor Fritz’s shocking early upsets, Felix Auger-Aliassime’s disappointment, and Andy Murray’s positive run into the R32, just to name a few.
2022 US Open Week 1 Takeaways & Odds Update
Tsitsipas. Fritz Crash Out
Two players that went into this year’s installment of the US Open with high hopes, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz, saw their campaigns come to a screeching halt in the first round after both lost to qualifiers.
Tsitsipas suffered his premature exit against qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan, who beat the No. 1 Greek in four sets, 6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. Fritz’s lost to American qualifier Brandon Holt, 6-7(3), 7-6 (1), 6-3, 6-4.
Tsitispas was among the Top 5 favorites, opening at +1200 to win the US Open title. Fritz was a contender priced at +2200.
While all the attention was focused on Serena, we have had two very unexpected upsets in the men's draw
Galan d. Tsitsipas 6-0 6-1 3-6 7-5
Holt d. Fritz 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-4— Mario Boccardi (@marioboc17) August 30, 2022
Auger-Aliassime, Coric Disappoint
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s long-awaited grand slam breakthrough will have to wait another year as the Canadian tripped up at the second hurdle. Rising British star Jack Draper defeated Auger-Aliassime, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Alas, Draper’s campaign ended in the next round as he was forced to withdraw from his third-round match against Karen Kachanov with a hamstring injury.
Cincinnati champion Borna Coric was forced to go the distance in his first-round match against qualifier Enzo Couacaud of France. American Jenson Brooksby capitalized on Coric’s evident struggles and defeated the veteran Croatian 6-4, 7-6(10), 6-1 in the R64. Brooksby, however, was unable to carry the momentum as he fell at his next hurdle, losing in straight sets to the No.3 seed and third overall favorite, Carlos Alcaraz.
Auger-Aliassime (+2000) and Boric (+2200) were among the tournament dark horses.
Tiafoe Flying American Flag
Francis Tiafoe is in the midst of a standout run at the US Open, reaching the R16 following a straight-set victory over Diego Schwartzman on Saturday. The American barely registered on anyone’s radar as he went into the tournament with odds of 100 to 1
Tiafoe’s odds to win improved marginally to +8000, even though he’s through to the R16. The reason for this underwhelming outlook is that he’s slated to take on Rafael Nadal for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Tiafoe is a consistent factor at the #USOpen pic.twitter.com/T9kPNtqpU9
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2022
Berrettini, Carreno-Busta & Norrie Floating Under Radar
There are several seeds floating under the radar, including Matteo Berrettini, Pablo Carreno Busta, and Cameron Norrie.
The 6-foot-5 Italian reaches the R16 despite facing many fitness concerns. Berrettini’s US Open preparations were disappointing and he seemed to be still suffering the aftereffects of Covid-19 which forced him out of the Wimbledon Championships.
Montreal champion Carreno Busta is having the summer of his life as he reaches the R16. The Spaniard took out former US Open champion Dominic Thiem, Alexander Bublik, and Alex De Minuar, dropping a set in each of his matches.
Britain’s No.1 Norrie reaches the second week of a grand slam for the second time this year. In his home slam, he reached the semifinals at the All England Club. Norrie next takes on Andrey Rublev, another seed floating under the radar. The winner of Norrie vs Rublev will take on the winner of Nadal vs Tiafoe.
No.5 seed Casper Ruud is also through to the US Open R16 for the first time in his career. The Norwegian carried lower expectations in betting online markets than most of the top seeds, but he’s put paid on those. He defeated American hopeful Tommy Paul in a five-set marathon in the R32.
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Berrettini saw his odds drop from +2000 to+1400. Carreno-Busta’s dropped from +6600 t0 +2800, Norrie is down from +4000 to +2200 and Ruud is down from +4000 to +2000.
Medvedev, Nadal, Alcaraz, Kyrgios Lead the Charge
The tournament started with defending champion Daniil Medvedev installed as the player to beat, closely followed by Nadal, Alcaraz, and Nick Kyrgios. That hasn’t changed as the draw trims down to the last 16. All four enter the second week having booked their places in the R16.
Medvedev Sets Up Kyrgios R16 Bout
Medvedev’s odds haven’t moved from the opening price of +175. He’s advanced without dropping a set and conceding a handful of games. However, it’s fair to say that he hasn’t been tested. He’s had a relatively straightforward draw – until now.
The Russian is set to take on Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round. Kyrgios has beaten him in three of their four meetings lifetime and as recently as the National Bank Open in Montreal. Medvedev did take the first win between the pair earlier this season at the Australian Open. However, Kyrgios is playing a thousand times better now and, more importantly, he’s more invested in the results than he’s ever been before in his career. Kyrgios opened as the fourth best-bet at +650. He’s now priced at +500.
Nadal To Take on Tiafoe in Round of 16
Nadal has worked his way into form at the US Open and reaches the R16 dropping just two sets along the way. The 36-year-old Spaniard lost his only warmup match to Coric in Cincinnati, raising valid fitness question marks ahead of his bid to win a 23rd Grand Slam title. He’s not answered those questions fully, but one can never underestimate one of the game’s greatest players. In fact, Nadal’s odds to win the US Open have been slashed from +350 to +250.
Nadal will take on Tiafoe on Labor Day Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals. Taifoe has never beaten Nadal in two meetings, never mind taking a set off the Spaniard.
Alcaraz Cruises Into R16
Alcaraz is living up to expectations and books his place in the R16 with relatively straightforward wins. The Spaniard hasn’t dropped a set and goes into the second week looking the freshest in the second half of the draw, prompting his odds to drop from +400 to +350.
Alcatraz will take on former US Open champion Marin Cilic in the R16. The veteran Croatian opened as the +5000 bet to win a second title at Flushing Meadows. His odds improve to +4000 – a marginal improvement reflective of the fact that he’s set to take on the highly fancied Alcaraz.
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