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

Day three
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Roger Federer, who dropped a set in his US Open curtain-raiser against little-known Sumit Nagal, should have an easier time of it in round two against Damir Dzumhur, an opponent he has twice beaten comfortably.

Novak Djokovic should also come through reasonably smoothly against Juan Ignacio Londero, although the Argen­tinian is a decent performer so straight-sets backers should be cautious.

French Open champ Ashleigh Barty started slowly against Zarina Diyas before pulling through and the Australian will also need to be on her game against determined Lauren Davis.

However, the best value on the day three card lies elsewhere.

Denis Kudla v Dusan Lajovic

Dusan Lajovic has come in for support to continue in winning vein in New York following his straight-sets win over Steve Darcis, but it may be wrong to underrate the chances of Denis Kudla upending the Serb in the final major of the season.

Lajovic has made definite progress this campaign, most noticeably on clay, on which he made the final of the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

It's not surprising that his fast-court game has gone up a notch too, but maybe not enough to justify some rather short-looking quotes to win his last-64 clash.

Kudla is nowhere near the strongest performer in the pack and that shows as major tournaments go on, but what he does he does well and he has a chance of adding to his opening four-set triumph over Janko Tipsarevic.

Rather than back Kudla to win at odds-against, it may pay to side with him getting a one-set handicap start.

He's obviously no good thing to come through the test but he should battle for all he is worth and may have enough to force a deciding set.

Recommendation
D Kudla +1.5 sets
1pt 4-5 Betfred, Coral, Ladbrokes

Ons Jabeur v Aliaksandra Sasnovich

Ons Jabeur notched her fifth straight win over Caroline Garcia when defeating the Frenchwoman 7-6 6-2 in first-round action in New York, and the Tunisian will take comfort in the fact that she won her only meeting with her second-round opponent Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

However, the Belarusian is a pretty strong all-round performer with few weaknesses in her game and that outing in the French Open juniors in 2011 may count for little now they're both a lot older and more experienced.

The early support has been for Sasnovich to draw level in their personal series and that seems justified.

Recommendation
A Sasnovich -2.5 games
1pt 4-5 Betfred, Betway

Maria Sakkari v Shuai Peng

Maria Sakkari thinks nothing of thrashing opponents – she made mincemeat of Camila Giorgi in a 6-1 6-0 opening-round cakewalk – but the Greek may find resurgent Shuai Peng a tougher nut to crack.

Peng is battling back after a six-month ban in August 2018 for breaching anti-corruption rules, but the 33-year-old Chinese made the semi-finals of the US Open in 2014 and can be a solid performer when on top of her game.

Peng may offer value to post an upset, but the clash could be closely fought and it could be worth getting with the outsider with a handicap start of 5.5 games.

Recommendation
Shuai Peng +5.5 games
1pt 3-4 Coral, Ladbrokes

Other matches

Venus Williams could offer a spot of value to upset Elina Svitolina in the wake of the American's 6-1 6-0 drubbing of Saisai Zheng on Monday.

Svitolina leads the veteran 2-1 on the head-to-heads but it would be either brave or foolish to think that the world number five has a divine right to lead their series.

The elder of the Williams sisters remains one of the finest match-players the sport has seen and while the Ukrainian ace comfortably won their two most recent meetings, the two-time Flushing Meadows singles champion looks refreshed for another crack at one of the most important dates on her calendar.

Caty McNally came through nicely in her opener against Timea Bacsinszky, but a date with Serena Williams, the best female player in history, is an altogether different test.

Serena may have lost a yard or two in terms of pace, but 17-year-old McNally will do well to keep her head in such hallowed company.

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