Tips and predictions for the US Open
In Sunday’s US Open final, teenagers Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud will compete not only for their first grand slam title, but also for the world number one ranking.
Third seed Alacaraz is the 4/9 favourite to beat 7/4 outsider Ruud, who gave us an 11/8 winner in his semi-final against Karen Khachanov by winning his opening serve, the first set, and the match, and we were tempted by the 3/1 on a four-set victory.
Alcaraz has had a turbulent second week at Flushing Meadows, so let’s look at both players’ chances in our OKBet US Open betting tips.
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Casper Ruud
No one would begrudge Alcaraz, 19, of becoming the world’s youngest world number one if he wins the trophy after winning his last three matches in five sets.
The youngster’s third and fourth-round victories over Marin Cilic and Jannik Sinner, the latter of which lasted five hours and 18 minutes and included a match point in the fourth set, ended well after 2 a.m.
That win over Sinner ended at 2.50 a.m., the latest finish time in this tournament, and his last three victories have taken a total of 13 hours and 28 minutes, so it would take a brave person to call his resilience and stamina into question.
“To be honest, in a grand slam semi-final, you have to give everything,” Alcaraz said. We must fight until the last ball is thrown. It makes no difference if we fight for five or six hours. It makes no difference. On the court, you must give your all.”
In his last three matches, Ruud took about four and a half hours less to defeat Corentin Moutet, Matteo Berrettini, and Karen Khachanov, so he has the advantage in that regard, but the fifth-seeded Norwegian has lost both meetings with Alcaraz.
The world number four defeated Ruud in the Miami final 7-5 6-4 more than five months ago, and he also won in straight sets at the Andalucia Open in Marbella last year.
Alcaraz is 21/10 to beat Ruud in straight sets again, but that scenario appears unlikely given his performance in the previous three rounds.
Ruud has already played in a grand slam final this year, losing to Rafael Nadal in six games, but he believes that experience will be invaluable ahead of Sunday’s match.
“I hope it has prepared me a little bit,” he said. At the very least, I know what to expect when I step onto the court, see the trophy on the back of the court, and see a slew of celebrities. Even at Roland Garros, royal families were in attendance. That was an unfamiliar experience for me. I’m hoping to be better prepared for that on Sunday.”
Alcaraz to win a fourth consecutive five-setter is 9/2, but as the first of our US Open Okbet betting tips, we prefer the 17/10 on a victory and over 39.5 total games.
Although Alcaraz was broken in the fourth set of his thrilling battle with Tiafoe, Ruud drew first blood instantly when they met in Miami.
Ruud has been the first to break in four of his last five US Open matches and could do so again at 5/4.
