US Open Best Bets: Jeff Pratt's Top Tennis Picks for Monday Featuring Djokovic & Tiafoe

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Americans Surge into U.S. Open Semifinals: Navarro, Fritz, and Tiafoe Triumph

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Aleksandar Kovacevic Under 16.5 Total Games Won vs. Frances Tiafoe (-140)
If you’re new to my tennis picks, this is a strategy I employ regularly in the early stages of Grand Slams.
Taking the game total under on a heavy favorite’s opponent has proven to be an effective approach over the years, and we’re getting great value with Kovacevic at 16.5 in this Round 1 clash.

These two faced off for the first time at the beginning of August in Washington, with Tiafoe winning a tight match. Following that result, it’s understandable that Kovacevic has earned a bit of respect with this line. That said, Tiafoe is entering the US Open playing arguably his best tennis of 2024. The American is fresh off an honorable Cincinnati final loss to Jannik Sinner, but he defeated Lorenzo Musetti, Hubert Hurkacz and Holger Rune to get there.

As for Kovacevic, it’s been tough sledding for the 26-year-old lately. Following his defeat to Tiafoe in Washington, he lost during qualifiers in Montreal and in the first round in Cincinnati. 16.5 games gives us a lot of leeway, as Kovacevic could win a set and still go under that total.

A 2022 semi-finalist in Queens, the US Open has historically been Tiafoe’s best Grand Slam. The 26-year-old boasts a 1.07 career dominance ratio at this event. I expect him to get off on the right foot this time around in New York with a strong Round 1 victory.

While you’re reading my US Open best bets, check out my full tournament preview with predictions!

Novak Djokovic vs. Radu Albot: Under 27.5 Total Games (-120)
The reigning US Open champion, Djokovic enters this tournament with no hardcourt tune-up. In this case, I don’t think it will matter.

The 37-year-old played his best tennis of 2024 at the Paris Olympics, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the gold medal match. I still have concerns about Novak’s longevity in a tournament full of best-of-five set matches, which is why I’m eager to target him early.

The Serbian has a history of slow starts in Grand Slams, but that wasn’t the case last time in Queens. In 2023, Djokovic won his opening two matches in straight sets, surrendering a total of 11 games. He also cruised to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win in Round 1 of Wimbledon this year. Novak’s body is finally starting to show signs of aging, as demonstrated by his lingering knee issues this year. While he’s still clearly capable of making a deep run in this tournament, he’ll need to limit unnecessary wear and tear early on.

I expect this match to wrap up in straight sets with a myriad of breaks for Djokovic, which should result in fewer than 28 total games.

Those are my US Open best bets for Day 1 in New York! Stay tuned for more picks tomorrow.

Jeff joined the DraftKings team in 2021 and currently covers basketball, football, tennis, soccer, and more as a Senior Content Associate. A former collegiate tennis and soccer player at Emerson College, he is also a diehard Boston sports fan — specifically the Celtics — having grown up in New Hampshire. Follow him on X at @ByJeffPratt!