US Open: men's tournament betting preview, free tips & TV details

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Three years have passed since someone other than Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer won a Grand Slam title, with the iconic trio sharing the last 11 Majors between them, and their dominance at the top table should continue in New York.

They have had a stranglehold over men’s tennis for the last 15 years, combining to seize over 50 Grand Slams, and even into their thirties are still so far clear of the opposition when tackling high-pressure situations.

The next generation, spearheaded by Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitispas and Dominic Thiem, can soon make their breakthrough but for now it seems age and experience has their measure.

Top tip
Rafael Nadal 10-3

Djokovic has won four of the last five Majors but he had everything in his favour when winning at Wimbledon in July and should find things far tougher in New York.

The super Serb was drawn away from old foes Nadal and Federer and reached the All England Club final without facing a player ranked inside the world’s top 20.

However, there are some sterner tests in store for Djokovic at Flushing Meadows and he may have to navigate his way past 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka, rising star Medvedev and wily veteran Federer just to make the final.

Given that he was 11-8 at Wimbledon, where he had previously won on four occasions, there are grounds for taking him on at a shorter price in the States and Nadal looks best placed to capitalise.

This time the Spaniard has the luxury of avoiding Djokovic and Federer until the final and his decision to skip competition in Cincinnati could prove a shrewd one.

Prior to that, Nadal took care of a classy field in Montreal, defending his ATP Rogers Cup title, and showing he was still in excellent shape a month on from his run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

The form of his latest win is working out well too. Nadal thumped Medvedev 6-3 6-0 in the final and the Russian youngster went on to claim silverware in Cincinnati, dumping out world number one Djokovic in a deciding set in the last four.

Nadal should have little to fear in the early stages before a potential last-16 clash with Marin Cilic. However, the Croatian has slid down to 23 in the world rankings, has yet to go beyond the fourth round in three Grand Slams this season and was a first-round casualty against Radu Albot in Cincinnati last time out.

Zverev or Karen Khachanov could be lurking in the last eight but Zverev has failed to live up to his billing on the biggest stage – he has not gone deeper than the third round in New York – and has lost all five meetings with Nadal. Khachanov, on the other hand, is 6-0 down to the Spaniard so also has plenty to find.

Thiem, denied in the last eight by Nadal last year, would be the biggest semi-final obstacle but the Austrian is far better on slower terrain.

Federer hasn’t lifted silverware at Flushing Meadows since 2008 and at 38, having disappointed as favourite two years ago, is vulnerable. He was also seen off by Andrey Rublev in Cincinnati earlier this month and evidently needs a grass court to be seen at his best.

Should Nadal meet Djokovic in a mouthwatering final, the Spaniard may have preserved more energy to get there and that could be the decisive factor, just as it was when Djokovic outlasted Federer in a five-set marathon at Wimbledon last month.

Next best
Roberto Bautista Agut to win third quarter 6-1

Tennis is crying out for one of the next generation to take leap forward and make their breakthrough at Grand Slam level and a wide-open third quarter provides a number of highly-touted youngsters with the chance to do that.

Thiem, Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Nick Kyrgios, Denis Shapovalov and Rublev are all players capable of securing a semi-final spot but few of them have done it on the biggest stage and some are set to do battle early.

Tsitsipas tackles Rublev in a tasty curtain-raiser, while Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime lock horns in an all-Canadian first-round tussle.

That may make the ultra-consistent Roberto Bautista Agut a safer bet. The Spaniard made the quarter-final of the Australian Open earlier in the year and reached the last four at Wimbledon, where he took care of a quarter including Khachanov, Milos Raonic and Kevin Anderson.

Bautista Agut has since shown how well he holds his form with runs to the last eight in Montreal and Cincinnati and, unlike with the younger generation in this heat, punters know exactly what to expect from him.

The 31-year-old opens against Mikhail Kukushkin and is capable of beating anyone in his section of the draw.

Others to note
Nick Kyrgios

The eccentric Aussie kept his cool to deny a strong field in Washington earlier this month and would be a danger to all if reproducing that form. But his temperament is a concern and he is best opposed in top tournaments until he drops the joker act.

Daniil Medvedev

The Russian has made finals in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati already this month but that is a busy schedule and he has yet to cut it at Grand Slam level, with one fourth-round appearance from 11 attempts.

Alexander Zverev

The sixth seed has won 11 titles on the ATP Tour but has been unable to translate that form to the Slams and is becoming expensive to follow. A run to the third round is his best effort at Flushing Meadows.

Dominic Thiem

A class act who will surely soon get his name up in lights. However, the Austrian is a renowned slow-court performer who peaks for Roland Garros and remains vulnerable on this speedier surface.

Felix Auger-Aliassime

The talented teen has improved at a rate of knots, climbing up to 19 in the world rankings. But the draw hasn't been kind to the Canadian, who opens against compatriot Shapovalov, and this comes too early in his development.

Kei Nishikori

The Japanese superstar is a model of consistency and has made the last eight in each Grand Slam this season. He likes it here, having made a final in 2014 and two semi-finals subsequently, and could be one to outrun his odds.

Recommendations
R Nadal
2pts 10-3 Betfred
Back this tip with bet365
R Bautista Agut to win third quarter
1pt 6-1 general
Back this tip with bet365

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