US Open tennis: day four match betting preview, news, tips & TV details

Day four
Amazon Prime, 4pm Thursday

Gauff v Babos

Cori Gauff took to the Louis Armstrong Stadium wearing trainers adorned with the words “call me Coco” on Tuesday and few will be forgetting the 15-year-old’s now-famous nickname if she replicates her Wimbledon run in New York this week.

The American made the fourth round at the All England Club last month and started her US Open bid in similarly thrilling fashion by coming from a set down to beat fellow teenager Anastasia Potapova in the opening round.

Punters would be wise not to get carried away by Gauff, who was brushed aside by Simona Halep at Wimbledon, but she displayed maturity beyond her tender years to turn the tide against Potapova and should arguably be a stronger favourite when she takes on Timea Babos for a place in round three.

Coco was under pressure against the Russian, who is also a fine prospect, but the youngster played better and better as the match progressed and she could prove too clever for Babos.

The Hungarian doubles specialist came through qualifying at Flushing Meadows but benefited from the first-round retirement of Carla Suarez Navarro to make this stage and her Grand Slam singles record – one third-round appearance from 27 attempts – is poor for a player once ranked in the WTA’s top 30.

Recommendation
C Gauff
2pts 4-6 Betfair

Isner v Struff

Gauff appeared to relish the chance to showcase her ability in front of the New York crowd but John Isner has never had much success in his home Grand Slam and it could be worth taking on the American beanpole with German ace Jan-Lennard Struff.

Isner has gone beyond the third round on only four occasions from 12 Flushing appearances and he looks vulnerable with the courts said to be playing slower than usual in the Big Apple.

The 34-year-old won the Hall of Fame Open on grass for the fourth time in July but his subsequent US hard-court campaign has been disappointing for a player who usually aims to peak at this stage of the season.

In Struff, he faces an opponent who has some strong results this season, including beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in Cincinnati, and the improver could make amends for his poor 0-3 head-to-head record against the veteran.

Recommendation
J-L Struff
1pt 6-5 bet365

Verdasco v Chung

Hyeong Chung reached the semi-finals of the 2018 Australian Open but the South Korean has suffered with a long-term back problem for much of this year which could prove problematic when he takes on Fernando Verdasco.

Chung, who was forced to qualify for the US Open despite being ranked in the world’s top 20 just 15 months ago, battled past Ernesto Escobedo in five sets on Tuesday and, while there’s no suggestion that his back issue has resurfaced, a lack of matches may prove his undoing.

The 23-year-old returned with a trophy in a Chengdu Challenger event but he is yet to face anyone ranked in the top 100 since making his comeback and 32nd seed Verdasco represents a much tougher proposition.

Recommendation
F Verdasco
1pt 11-10 general

Ostapenko v Riske

Jelena Ostapenko has been through a tough two years since winning the French Open as a 150-1 shot but the power-packed Latvian looks a lively outsider against Alison Riske.

Ostapenko’s often error-strewn performances can put punters off backing her, but she is devastating and destructive when she gets it right, as was the case when she defeated Caroline Garcia and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at the Rogers Cup earlier this month.

Riske typically comes alive on grass and was in fine form in pushing Serena Williams all the way in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

However, the American has often failed to reproduce that form back on US hard courts, failing to reach round two between 2014 and 2018, and bookmakers may be reading too much into her first-round dismissal of struggling Garbine Muguruza.

Recommendation
J Ostapenko
1pt 13-8 bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power

Other matches

Rafael Nadal is the star attraction in the bottom half of a men’s draw which has been blown open by the early exits of several major contenders.

The French Open champion should beat injury-plagued Thanasi Kokkinakis but sixth seed Alexander Zverev may not find home hope Frances Tiafoe so easy to pass.

Defending women’s champion Naomi Osaka should be too powerful for Magda Linette despite her confidence struggles while Halep is likely to prove too strong for Taylor Townsend.

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