talkSPORT betting tips – US Open tennis tips for Friday

As we get further into the tournament, the matches get bigger and the match-ups more important in the battle to win the US Open.

We have selected four picks from Friday’s matches in the men’s and women’s singles at Flushing Meadows to consider.

US Open Tennis Tips

• Frances Tiafoe to beat Ben Shelton @ 5/4
• Casper Ruud to beat Juncheng Shang @ 1/2
• Donna Vekic to beat Peyton Stearns @ 4/6
• Madison Keys to beat Elise Mertens @ 2/5

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Tiafoe can gain US revenge

There is an all-American affair in the men’s singles round of 32, as Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe go head-to-head.

After a barren decade for US men’s tennis, things now seem to be heading in the right direction with five players inside the top-25 of the world rankings.

Shelton and Tiafoe are two of those stars and they will meet at the US Open for a second time, the former having won a four-set encounter in 2023.

The 21-year-old has won both of their two previous meetings, after also winning on clay in Houston earlier this year. That was another close affair, going to three sets, but recent form suggests Tiafoe can turn the tables in Friday’s clash.

Tiafoe headed to Flushing Meadows off the back of an impressive run at the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, where he reached the final before losing to Jannik Sinner.

The 26-year-old beat Hubert Hurkacz (7th seed) and Holger Rune (16th seed)  on route to the final and that will have boosted his belief.

It’s also worth noting that Tiafoe has an impressive recent record in the final Grand Slam of the year, reaching the semi-finals and quarter-finals in the last two years.

Former finalist Ruud can progress

Casper Ruud is still seeking his first Grand Slam title, having so far lost in three finals, including the 2022 US Open final.

The Norwegian has been drawn to play Chinese teenager Juncheng Shang for the first time and his experience in New York should stand him in good stead.

Although Ruud’s recent form has not been at the level expected, the 25-year-old should still come out on top in Friday’s round of 32 match-up.

This is Shang’s first appearance in the main draw at Flushing Meadows, although he did reach the US Open junior final in 2021.

Vekic can battle the home crowd and Stearns

The majority of the fans for the women’s singles clash between Donna Vekic and Peyton Stearns will be hoping for an upset and home success.

The Croatian has a poor recent record at Flushing Meadows, failing to get past the first round in the last three years.

But she has enjoyed a much-improved year and has looked good in the early stages, winning her first and second round matches without losing a set.

Vekic has not faced Stearns before and she will face a tough test against an American who made the fourth round in New York last year.

The world number 24 though has recently won silver at the Olympics and reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon and should have enough to progress.

Maddison holds the Keys to success

Despite fitness concerns leading into the tournament, Madison Keys has progressed to the third round, where she will face Elise Mertens.

The American, who reached the US Open final in 2017, retired due to injury in her round of 32 clash at the National Bank Open earlier this month.

Keys though has cruised through the first two rounds without dropping a set and now faces an opponent she has beaten in three of their four previous matches.

Their only previous clash at Flushing Meadows was seven years ago, when Keys ran out a 6-3 7-6 winner.

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Odds correct at time of writing

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