The US Open begins on Monday to an incredible start and the order of play is unbelievable!
I’ve found value on two of Monday's matchups: Frech vs Minnen and Maria vs Sierra.
Read on to find US Open picks for Monday, August 26.
Note: Match times are subject to change. Read here for tips on viewing tennis matches and seeing tennis odds.
US Open Open Odds, Picks
Magdalena Frech (-156) vs Greet Minnen (+130)
12:30 p.m. ET
Despite losing in the quarterfinals of Monterrey (hard) in three sets to Emma Navarro, Magdalena Frech is now 19-12 this year on hard courts, including a 6-3 mark during the summer hard-court swing. For her career, Frech has a 192-141 record on the surface.
Frech is an intelligent, quick player who is solid from the baseline. The Pole gets excellent depth on her groundstrokes, spreading the court well into precise targets. Frech does an excellent job of hitting with angles and keeping the ball out of her opponents' strike zone.
In addition, the 26-year old absorbs pace effectively, both neutralizing points and counterpunching well. It's difficult to hit through Frech during baseline exchanges.
Greet Minnen fell in the round of 16 to Ana Bogdan in Cleveland (hard), lowering her mark on hard courts to just 13-15 in 2024. During the summer hard-court swing in particular, the Belgian is 5-4, and she does have a 206-117 professional-mark on the surface.
Minnen plays an attacking style and tries to get the first strike in. She hits her spots on serve and ramps up the pace on her groundstrokes, especially her forehand. The 27-year old isn't afraid to move forward and attempts to take time away from her opponents.
However, Minnen's backhand is a liability. And at times, the Belgian is impatient on the court, losing her rally tolerance as she overhits from the ground.
This is a good matchup for Frech. She has the defensive skills to blunt Minnen's attacking game. In addition, the Pole has the tennis IQ and placement on her groundstrokes to successfully target what should be the weakest shot on the court: Minnen's backhand.
Frech's ability to spread the court and keep the ball out of her opponents' strike zone should frustrate Minnen, and the Belgian should lose patience, going for her shots on the wrong ball.
Look for Frech to wear down Minnen as this match goes on, with the Belgian's unforced errors adding up as the match progresses.
Pick: Frech -2,5 games (-110 via FanDuel)
Tatjana Maria (-125) vs Solana Sierra (+104)
1 p.m. ET
Tatjana Maria is coming into the US Open with just a 10-12 record on hard courts this season, having gone just 3-3 during the summer hard-court swing. Overall, since reaching the Surbiton (grass) final in June, the German has won just four of her last 14 matches across all three surfaces.
Maria does have a solid 339-281 professional-mark on hard courts for a reason. At her best, Maria hit her spots on serve, could dictate with her forehand, had a cutting backhand slice and excellent variety. However, while a (diminished) version of the 37-year old remains, she's a shell of her former self.
Maria's movement isn't as good as it once was, her ability to hit into targets has decreased and her rally tolerance has suffered, as well. And this isn't taking into account that a warm, muggy day in Flushing Meadows could exacerbate these issues.
Solana Sierra qualified for the US Open to improve her hard-court record to 11-7 in 2024. For her career Sierra has an impressive 35-14 record on hard courts, although much of that at the lower levels of the sport.
Sierra adapts her game well to hard courts. She's quick, has a high tennis IQ and very solid from the baseline, getting consistent depth on her groundstrokes. The Argentine doesn't have overwhelming power but can hit with pace when given an opening, particularly from her forehand wing.
The 20-year old is also physically fit and able to grind out long matches, wearing down Usue Maitane Arconada in the final qualifying round.
This is a match between two players trending in opposite directions. Sierra is the fitter of the two and, having played three matches on site, should be much more conditioned to the heat and humidity of New York City, along with the court conditions, specifically.
Sierra also has the rally tolerance to wear down an aging Maria from the baseline, along with the speed and tennis IQ to track down and neutralize her variety.
Pick: Sierra ML (+104 via FanDuel)
