Alexander Zverev has been tipped for great things since breaking on to the scene in 2015 and he can take a huge step towards a maiden Grand Slam crown at the US Open on Tuesday.
Zverev to Capitalise on Open Field
Novak Djokovic was the heavy favourite to win the US Open in the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but his controversial disqualification on Sunday has blown the men’s field wide open.
Zverev has yet to fulfill the promise he showed in the early stages of his career but this year’s edition of the US Open offers a fantastic opportunity.
The world number seven has yet to reach the final of a Grand Slam – his best run to date came when reaching the semi-finals of the 2020 Australian Open – but without the usual big names he can finally get over the line.
He looks a solid bet at 5/12 to beat Croatian world number 32 Borna Coric when they meet in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Coric has already pulled off one upset at this year’s competition, beating world number six Stefanos Tsitsipas, however, Zverev has looked cool and composed en route to the last eight and shouldn’t have any issues in reaching the semi-finals.
The German has breezed through his ties in New York, winning three of his four outings in four sets, while his last-16 clash with Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina ended 6-2 6-2 6-1 and was over in just one hour and 31 minutes.
Coric is likely to offer more of a test but backing Zverev to win 3-1 at 27/10 looks the way to go.
Veteran to Send Shapovalov Packing
Pablo Carreno-Busta can count himself hugely fortunate to be in the quarter-finals after he profited from Djokovic’s disqualification on Sunday.
The Spaniard, who reached the semi-finals of the US Open in 2017, has his sights set on the last four once again as he prepares to line up against Denis Shapovalov.
He did earn a break against Djokovic and led 6-5, having played 59 minutes of their last-16 tie, until the Serb was kicked out of the competition for hitting a line judge with a ball.
The premature end to the match could prove hugely beneficial for Carreno-Busta, who has had extra time to recharge his batteries ahead of his meeting with Shapovalov.
He looks an attractive pick to win in the early hours of Wednesday morning and can be backed at 31/20.
Putintseva to End American’s Dream
Jennifer Brady is the latest in a long line of Americans to step up their game when turning out at their home Grand Slam event.
The world number 41 stunned Angelique Kerber in the last-16, winning 6-1 6-4 in one hour and 24 minutes.
Brady did require some time off-court for medical attention, returning with her left thigh wrapped, and that could be a concern for Tuesday’s quarter-final showdown with Yulia Putintseva.
Putintseva isn’t without her injury issues, though, after struggling with a back problem in her victory over eighth seed Petra Martic in the previous round.
The Kazakh representative boasts a 2-0 head-to-head record when facing Brady and offers a huge amount of value to win Tuesday’s encounter at 13/5.
Osaka to Ease Into Semis
Former world number one Naomi Osaka’s involvement in the US Open was thrown into doubt when she withdrew from the Western & Southern Open final with a hamstring issue.
But the 2018 champion has glided through the field and has to be regarded as a strong contender to go all the way at Flushing Meadows.
Her next assignment comes in the early hours of Wednesday morning when she faces American Shelby Rogers on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
After defeating Anett Kontaveit in straight sets in the previous round, Osaka shouldn’t come up against too much resistance when squaring off against Rogers.
Indeed, two of her four victories at this year’s US Open have come in straight sets and, therefore, it’s worth getting behind Osaka to win 2-0 at 20/33.
*All odds correct at time of writing