US Open day one predictions & tennis betting tips: Murray to battle

Free tennis tips, best bets and analysis for day one of the US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York City on Monday.

Where to watch

Starts 4pm Monday, live on Eurosport & Amazon Prime

Best bets

Andy Murray to beat Francisco Cerundolo
1pt 8-13 Betfair

Dominic Thiem +5.5 games v Pablo Carreno Busta
2pts 5-6 bet365

Jack Draper to beat Emil Ruusuvuori
2pts 4-5 general

Cristian Garin to beat Jiri Lehecka
1pt 11-10 bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power

Ann Li to beat Maria Camila Osorio Serrano
1pt Evs bet365

Anna Karolina Schmiedlova to win at least one set v Nadia Podoroska
1pt 8-13 bet365

Preview

Francisco Cerundolo v Andy Murray

Francisco Cerundolo is one of the most exciting young players in world tennis, but the inexperienced Argentinian may have to play second fiddle to Andy Murray in their US Open curtain-raiser.

Murray bagged the first of his three Grand Slam singles triumphs at Flushing Meadows ten years ago and while the jury is out as to how much more the Brit can still achieve given his injury troubles over the last few years, he may not be done with just yet.

He is no stranger to finishing seasons strongly and his game looked to be in excellent order towards the end of last year. Murray has failed to kick on this season but there is still plenty of time for another positive end to his campaign.

Cerundolo took a set off Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in July but while the 24-year-old may be more comfortable on hardcourts than grass, Murray should still have enough in his armoury to find a way to triumph.

Pablo Carreno Busta v Dominic Thiem

Pablo Carreno Busta was a deserving winner of his first Masters Series tournament in Montreal recently, but the Spaniard may be a little overrated for his first-round date with Dominic Thiem.

Austrian Thiem, Flushing Meadows champion in 2020, has gone about his return from injury in an impressive, calm manner. He's getting stronger all the time and knows that he may not be far from pulling off some sizable match triumphs.

Carreno Busta tends to find it difficult to maintain a high level too, so there could be value in backing Thiem to perform better than the oddsmakers anticipate.

He can be chanced for an upset, but backing the outsider with a handicap start of 5.5 games could be the best avenue to profit.

Jack Draper v Emil Ruusuvuori

British youngster Jack Draper looks the real deal and the 20-year-old could have too much firepower for Emil Ruusuvuori.

Draper has looked at home in the US Open Series this season. He made the quarter-finals in Toronto, where he was undone by eventual champion Carreno Busta, and in Winston-Salem, where he defeated high-class opponents Fabio Fognini and Thiem.

Ruusuvuori is a slow-burning type who seldom makes finals and the Finn may do well to keep tabs on the physically strong Draper.

Cristian Garin v Jiri Lehecka

Czech Jiri Lehecka is edging favouritism for his New York City opener against Cristian Garin, but just because the Chilean is unseeded for the final Grand Slam of the season doesn't mean his campaign is finished yet.

Garin is recognised more for his clay-court prowess, but he can be an impressive performer on any terrain. He made the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in July and if he can produce the goods on grass then he can definitely do likewise on American hardcourts.

He has never been past the second round of the US Open, which may suggest that Garin takes things easier as the year winds down, but he still looks superior to his 20-year-old opponent on Decoturf at this stage of his career.

Ann Li v Maria Camila Osorio Serrano

Maria Camila Osorio Serrano is a fine competitor but the Colombian may meet her match in her Flushing Meadows opener against Ann Li, a shining star among the younger American players.

Li was highly touted by tennis observers and while she still has much to do to justify their faith, her talent is not in question and she should prove too good in her home major for Osorio, who tends to make the most of her opportunities in lesser tournaments.

Li made the third round of the final Grand Slam event of the season in 2020, so there are solid grounds for supporting her.

Nadia Podoroska v
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova

Nadia Podoroska has used a protected ranking to enter the US Open this year, but while the Argentinian is a serious talent on clay courts she still has a lot to learn about the fast-court game.

The 25-year-old Argentinian fully deserved her place in the French Open semi-finals in 2020, but that effort aside it has been a struggle for Podoroska, who has come up short in her two previous US Open first-round matches.

Opponent Anna Karolina Schmiedlova has bags of ability and while she offers value to upset Podoroska, it may be worth taking out insurance and backing the outsider to win at least a set instead.

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