Tennis Betting Tips: Popyrin poised to push Djokovic at Flushing Meadows

The third round of the US Open begins at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Friday when the defending men’s and women’s singles champions must both be wary of potential upsets.

Novak Djokovic takes on Alexei Popyrin, who elevated his form by winning a Masters 1000 title in Montreal earlier this month, while Coco Gauff has looked short of her best and she faces an experienced Grand Slam campaigner in Elina Svitolina. Djokovic’s match features in my four tennis betting tips for Friday, August 30.

Tennis Odds

Sets Handicap – Alexei Popyrin +2.5 sets @ 8/11

Djokovic has won all three previous meetings with Popyrin but the Aussie has taken a set off him in Grand Slam meetings in Melbourne and Wimbledon this season and he can do likewise in New York.

The 25-year-old has looked full of confidence at Flushing Meadows, recording wins over Soonwoo Kwon and Pedro Martinez, and he’s shown an ability to step up a gear with his performances in Canada.

Djokovic is, of course, a firm favourite for this contest but the Serb was not at his best in a second-round win over Laslo Djere. He may have to work to win this one.

Match Betting – Jiri Lehecka to beat Andrey Rublev @ 5/2

Jiri Lehecka recovered from two sets down to beat Mitchell Krueger in the last round and the gutsy Czech looks capable of causing a minor shock by downing sixth seed Andrey Rublev.

Rublev was also forced to go the distance to beat Arthur Rinderknech in scorching conditions on Wednesday, so both men have faced similar court time, and a meeting with Lehecka, who has beaten him in two of three previous meetings on hard courts, is a potential banana skin.

Set Betting – Paula Badosa to beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 2-0 @ 8/11

Paula Badosa has caught the eye with her efforts in the US this summer, winning the Washington title and reaching the Cincinnati semi-finals, and she’s starting to look like a contender in the women’s draw.

The Spaniard has won six of her last seven matches in straight sets and she can inflict a 2-0 defeat on Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who shocked Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova to reach this stage but could struggle to reproduce that effort.

Match Betting – Emma Navarro to beat Marta Kostyuk @ 8/13

There are several American title hopefuls in the women’s draw and world No.12 Emma Navarro is performing at a level which suggests she takes high rank among them.

The New York native has cruised into the third round, winning all four sets by a 6-1 scoreline.

As was the case in Toronto, she should prove too strong for Marta Kostyuk, who was unconvincing in her second-round win over Great Britain’s Harriet Dart.

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