Round 3 action is underway in New York! In this article, I’ll break down my top DraftKings Sportsbook pick for Friday’s match between two top Americans, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. Stay tuned for new US Open best bets every day!
Without further ado, let’s get into it.
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Ben Shelton -1.5 Games vs. Frances Tiafoe (-125)
We’re in for a battle between arguably the two most exciting Americans on tour.
This is exactly the match fans in New York were hoping for, it’s just a shame it’s taking place so early in the draw. Shelton and Tiafoe faced off in the quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows last year in what proved to be one of the most exciting clashes of the tournament. Shelton advanced in four sets, and it was a similar result the second time these two met in the 2024 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships final. That contest went the distance, but the youngster ultimately prevailed.
Now, we’re set for Round 3 of Shelton vs. Tiafoe on Friday, with both players entering the match in strong form. Shelton hasn’t dropped a set in New York yet, coming off a dominant 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Roberto Bautista Agut in which he racked up a whopping 17 aces. Tiafoe is well-rested after Alexander Shevchenko was forced to retire early in the third set of their match on Wednesday.
The script for Shelton advancing is simple. As long as the 21-year-old executes with his first serve, it’s hard to see a path to victory for Tiafoe. That’s been the case in their prior two matches, with Shelton converting 60% of his first serves and winning an impressive 80% of those points. The lefty doesn’t generate a ton of break opportunities — although he created more than Tiafoe in their meetings — but he doesn’t really have to. One break per set is enough to get the job done if he brings his A-game on serve.
I expect Friday’s match to play out similarly to the prior contests between the two Americans. We’ll see some fireworks, but Shelton should move on and cover this small spread.
While you’re reading my US Open best bets, check out my full tournament preview with predictions to see how they turn out!
That’s my top DraftKings Sportsbook pick! Stay tuned for more US Open best bets tomorrow.
