We're getting set to conclude the second round of the US Open on Thursday, and the upsets have only just begun. I'm putting two more well-known top-20 players on upset alert against some rising stars on tour.
Let's get into how to bet Jack Draper vs Hubert Hurkacz and Yibing Wu vs Alex de Minaur. Here are my US Open picks today.
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US Open Picks Today
Jack Draper (+160) vs Hubert Hurkacz (-195)
11 a.m. ET
Every time I see Jack Draper play in person, I'm reminded of just how good this kid is. Everyone I've spoken to who watches him says the same thing. His game seems impenetrable; He has one of the biggest serve-forehand combinations on tour, he crushes his two-handed backhand and he plays with incredible feel at the net. To top it all off, he's left-handed, which makes him even trickier to play.
He has no clear weaknesses, except for his own body.
Prior to yet another disappointing retirement due to injury last year at the US Open, Draper lit the tournament on fire with a charge to the third round, which included absolutely dominant wins over Emil Ruusuvuori and Felix Auger-Aliassime. The question with Draper has always been whether or not he can hold up for a long week of tennis, let alone two, and whether or not he can battle adverse playing conditions.
Until we hit the real heat here at the US Open, or the second week, there shouldn't really be many concerns regarding Draper's fitness. The 21-year-old looks fresh and ready to challenge a familiar opponent in Hubert Hurkacz, and I believe he's ready to earn his first victory over the Pole.
Draper and Hurkacz have met twice in the last two years, with each match going the distance. There is very little gap between these two, and I believe their first meeting at a Grand Slam should work out in Draper's favor.
While the Brit played well here last year, Hurkacz was bounced prior to the third round for the fifth time in his five-year history here at the US Open. The 26-year-old hasn't exactly been great at the Slams over his career, reaching the fourth round or better just four times since debuting in the main draws in 2018.
I like Draper to win here as the player who looks considerably better entering this match.
Pick: Draper ML (+160)
Yibing Wu (+295) vs Alex de Minaur (-380)
1:30 p.m. ET
It seems that some time off has really helped Yibing Wu.
Returning to the site of his first real breakout, the rising Chinese star showcased the relentless ball-striking that won him a title on the ATP Tour earlier this season in a five-set triumph over Dusan Lajovic in the first round. He was socking the ball, just as we've come to expect, and best of all his body held up for the entire encounter after a summer filled with physical struggles on the court.
Wu looks fresh and ready to make another run here at the US Open, if his first-round win is any indication, and I'd give him a much better chance to win this match over Alex de Minaur than the odds would indicate.
While the Aussie has played well in the lead-up to this tournament, his lack of weapons and aggressiveness may cost him here. Wu should take it to de Minaur early and often, keeping the match on his racquet. While he may eventually lose the match, I think he should be in control for at least part of it. That should be enough to cover the games here against an opponent who briefly struggled against a significantly worse opponent in Timofey Skatov in the first round.
Pick: Wu +5.5 games (-110)
