US Open day six predictions & tennis betting tips: Norrie to grind out victory

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

Where to watch

Live on Amazon Prime, from 4pm Saturday

Best bets

Cameron Norrie to win & both players to win a set v Holger Rune
1pt 6-4 bet365

Danielle Collins to beat Alize Cornet
2pts 8-13 general

Karolina Pliskova to beat Belinda Bencic
1pt 11-10 bet365, Hills

Day six preview

Most of the heavy hitters in the bottom half of the men’s US Open draw are still standing and Rafael Nadal’s quest for a third Grand Slam title of the season resumes against French veteran Richard Gasquet.

There are two British hopefuls also in third-round contention as Dan Evans takes on 2014 champion Marin Cilic, while Cameron Norrie meets Denmark’s teenage talent Holger Rune.

There are any number of fascinating third-round clashes taking place in the women’s draw with Garbine Muguruza versus Petra Kvitova, who have both won two Grand Slam titles, potentially the pick of the bunch.

Cameron Norrie v Holger Rune

British number one Norrie has recorded straight-set wins over Benoit Paire and Joao Sousa in New York this week, but the Wimbledon semi-finalist should steel himself for a battle against rising star Rune.

Seventh seed Norrie reached the semi-finals in Cincinnati and has carried that form with him to Flushing Meadows.

However, both his opening two contests featured tiebreaks, so there were opportunities for his opponents, and he dropped a set in three of his four wins in Cincinnati.

One of those victories came against Rune, who highlighted his potential to rise up the rankings in the near future during a 7-6 4-6 6-4 defeat.

That shows the Dane, who also lost to Norrie in a deciding set in a semi-final in Lyon in May, has the game to cause the Brit plenty of problems.

Norrie, however, is widely regarded as one of the fittest players on the ATP Tour and the prospects of a lengthy contest should only play into his hands.

Alize Cornet v Danielle Collins

Alize Cornet and Danielle Collins square-off in a rematch of this season's Australian Open quarter-final and, just like in Melbourne, the American can come out on top.

Collins went on to finish runner-up to home favourite Ashleigh Barty in Australia, having accounted for now world number one Iga Swiatek in the last four, but she has struggled for consistency since due to injuries.

However, the 28-year-old appears to have been working towards peak fitness for her home Slam and straight-set wins over Naomi Osaka and Cristina Bucsa show she is back operating at a high level.

Cornet needed three sets to see off Katerina Siniakova in the last round and will need to raise her standards if she is to silence a noisy Flushing Meadows crowd.

Karolina Pliskova v Belinda Bencic

Karolina Pliskova has an excellent record at the US Open, having finished as runner-up and made three quarter-finals in the last six years, and she should fancy her chances against third-round opponent Belinda Bencic.

The Czech star survived an almighty scare against Magda Linette in round one but dominated classy compatriot Marie Bouzkova on Thursday, winning 6-3 6-2.

Pliskova, who made the last four in Toronto in the middle of August, has been holding her form well and looks to have the beating of Bencic.

The Swiss 13th seed has come through three-set contests with Andrea Petkovic and Sorana Cirstea and this rates considerably tougher.

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