We’re only a few days into the 2020 U.S. Open, from Flushing Meadows, New York, and after two rounds, a lot of the big names are headed home. On the men’s side, Andy Murray, Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov are done. On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka, Garbine Muguruza and top seed Karolina Pliskova are out.
If you plan on including the American Slam in your tennis betting this weekend, take a look at the latest word going forward, as the likes of Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka live to fight into the third round.
Tennis Betting News:
The Latest from the 2020 U.S. Open
How did Karolina Pliskova lose?
She didn’t just lose; she lost in straight sets, 1-6, 6-7 (2), to Caroline Garcia. However, the parity in women’s tennis has improved significantly in recent years. Garcia had risen as high as #4 in the women’s tennis rankings in 2018, and she was 3-3 in her last six matches against Pliskova. She came into this U.S. Open unseeded, and she took advantage of her service return game to frustrate Pliskova.
Pliskova went all the way to the U.S. Open final in 2016 after beating Serena Williams, and she had a terrific chance to win her first Grand Slam singles title, with six of the top ten players in the world having opted out of the tournament, including the top two (Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep). However, she has not played well since the sport resumed. She lost in the first round of the Western & Southern Open on August 23, falling to Veronika Kudermetova. In addition to Pliskova, the 11th, 12th and 13th seeds in the women’s draw lost in the second round.
Top Tennis Matches this Weekend
#31 Marin Cilic vs #2 Dominic Thiem
Men’s Draw, Third Round
Saturday, September 5
Thiem struggled in his first-round match against Jaume Munar but ended up taking care of business. He looked much better in the second round, ousting Sumit Nagal in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Thiem was able to win 75 percent of his second-serve points, which was instrumental in making the win a lot faster. Thiem has a 2-0 lifetime record against Cilic, and while Thiem looked less than dominant in his opening round, he should be able to make that 3-0.
Cilic was down two sets to love in his first round against New Yorker Denis Kudla. However, Cilic was able to flip a switch and win the next three sets. He delivered 26 aces along the way and won 83 percent of his first-serve points. In the second round against Norbert Gombos, he hit 35 winners in a four-set win, advancing 6-3, 1-6, 7-6, 7-5. However, his second serve is an area of concern, as he has already racked up 16 double faults in the first two rounds.
Final Prediction:
Thiem wins in Five Sets | Check the Odds
#26 Sloane Stephens vs #3 Serena Williams
Women’s Draw, Third Round
Saturday, September 5
Sloane Stephens had not won two matches in a row since last September, so her straight sets win over Olga Govortsova (6-2, 6-2) had to be a relief. Her record so far in 2020 had been 1-7 before she started the Open, so she is already on an upward trend.
Serena Williams is still looking for that 24th major to move into a tie with Margaret Court for Grand Slam titles. In the first round at Flushing Meadows, she beat Kristie Ahn in straight sets, but she lost her first service game in each set. The second round looked steadier, as she routed Margarita Gasparyan, 6-2, 6-4. Stephens has won just once against Williams, back in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Australian Open. Williams has won five of the six meetings overall, and the last four in a row. Given Stephens’ track record this year, she may have already peaked in this tournament.
Final Prediction:
Williams wins in Three Sets | Check the Odds
