US Open predictions & tennis betting tips: Rising Russian can show his class

Free tennis tips, best bets and analysis for day four of the US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York.

Where to watch

Amazon Prime, from 4pm Thursday

Best bets

Aslan Karatsev -1.5 sets v Jordan Thompson
2pts 8-11 Betfred

Taylor Fritz to beat Jenson Brooksby
1pt 11-10 general

Su-Wei Hsieh to beat Sara Sorribes Tormo
1pt 15-8 Betfred & Paddy Power

Day four preview

Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty are the stars on show on day four of the US Open and the title favourites are expected to readily seal their spots in round three.

Djokovic, a best-priced 4-5 to achieve a calendar Grand Slam in New York, needed four sets to see off Holger Rune in his curtain-raiser.

However, the Serb also dropped a set in his Wimbledon opener against Jack Draper before soaring to title supremacy, and Tallon Griekspoor should pose fewer problems.

Barty teed up her US Open preparations with a title triumph in Cincinnati just over a week ago and the Australian, who is 10-3 to follow up her Wimbledon win, faces the highly-touted Clara Tauson in the second round.

The Danish teen is already a winner on the WTA Tour, although the brilliant Barty has lost only twice in 16 matches since June and is likely to have her measure.

Aslan Karatsev v Jordan Thompson

Aslan Karatsev has enjoyed a breakthrough season and the Russian should readily outclass Jordan Thompson in his second-round match.

The Russian started the year as world number 112 but a dream run to the semi-final of the Australian Open - his first taste of the main draw of a Grand Slam - and a title triumph in Dubai have seen him leap up to 25th.

The 27-year-old is very much a late bloomer and although recent efforts have been sub-par, he has shown his big-game mentality and he thrives on harder terrain.

Karatsev hit 57 winners in his four-set win over Jaume Munar and that power from the baseline should be too much for inconsistent Aussie Thompson, who needed five sets to overcome Gianluca Mager. Take the favourite to win by at least two clear sets.

Jenson Brooksby v Taylor Fritz

An all-American clash pits Jenson Brooksby against Taylor Fritz and the bookmakers prefer the chances of the more inexperienced player.

But Brooksby, who is appearing in the main draw of a Grand Slam for just the fourth time and is yet to go past the second round, looks the wrong favourite.

Fritz defeated 14th seed Alex De Minaur in four sets in his first-round match and is far more experienced in high-pressure situations.

Brooksby is an unorthodox opponent with lots of confidence in his game, but is 54 places inferior to Fritz in the world rankings and must improve upon his four-set win over Mikael Ymer.

The big-serving Fritz has made the third round in six of his last seven Grand Slam starts and can repeat the trick by beating his younger compatriot Brooksby, who is far from the finished article.

Sara Sorribes Tormo v Su-Wei Hsieh

Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo is a player with huge potential, but she is worth opposing against the ultra-reliable veteran Su-Wei Hsieh.

Sorribes Tormo’s opening win over Karolina Muchova reads well but the Czech was wasteful - she made 48 unforced errors - and is evidently paying for a hard season.

Hsieh, on the other hand, looked good in her 6-1 6-4 win over Claire Liu - she had a first-serve percentage of 85 per cent - and rarely disappoints with a below-par display.

The Taiwanese performer rolled back the years when making the last eight at the Australian Open earlier this season and she has won all three meetings with Sorribes Tormo, so looks the value call.

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