US Open First-Round Picks
Why have only two days of first-round action when you can have three? For the first time, the U.S. Open is starting on a Sunday – following in the footsteps of the Australian Open and French Open (Wimbledon still goes with a traditional Monday start). That means the first round is spread across Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. That doesn’t necessarily mean there is more tennis and more betting opportunities – but it feels like it, since the competition spans a larger number of days. Whatever the case, a smorgasbord of tennis is upon us – not just in the opening round but really for the entirety of the upcoming fortnight. It’s the season’s final Grand Slam on the annual calendar on the biggest stage in all of tennis. Get your popcorn ready! Let’s take a look at some of the best bets to make for the U.S. Open first round.
US Open first-round predictions
Pick #1: Victoria Mboko vs. Barbora Krejcikova Over 21.5 games (-125) Click Here to Bet
Pick #2: Joao Fonseca ML over Miomir Kecmanovic (-175) Click Here to Bet
Pick #3: Jaqueline Adina Cristian +3.5 games over Danielle Collins (-110) Click Here to Bet
PICK #1: Victoria Mboko vs. Barbora Krejcikova Over 21.5 games (-125)
At just 18 years old, Mboko has already soared to No. 24 in the world – putting her in a seed spot for the U.S. Open. The Canadian probably thought she was in line for a favorable draw as a result, but instead she has to go up against a two-time Grand Slam champion in Krejcikova. It’s the most intriguing matchup of the entire first round in either the men’s or women’s bracket. Krejcikova is unseeded at No. 61 in the rankings, but that is largely due to time off related to injuries. The Czech, who won the 2021 French Open and Wimbledon three years later, can never be discounted on this kind of stage.
Meanwhile, Mboko is red hot. Her breakout 2025 campaign is highlighted by a recent WTA Premier 1000 title in Montreal. However, this is her U.S. Open debut. All things considered, this projects to be an extremely competitive contest that neither woman will win quickly.
PICK #2: Joao Fonseca ML over Miomir Kecmanovic (-175)
Fonseca has cooled off since a hot start to the season in which he upset Andrey Rublev in straight sets at the Australian Open and captured his first ATP title in Buenos Aires. Still, the 18-year-old Brazilian is not playing poorly. He reached the third round of the French Open, the third round at Wimbledon and the third round of the recent Cincinnati Masters. A straight-set loss to Terence Atmane in Cincinnati suddenly doesn’t look as bad after Atmane proceeded to make it all the way to the semifinals, ousting Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune in the process.
A meeting with Kecmanovic should set up well for Fonseca. The 25-year-old Serb has lost in the opening round in 11 of his last 18 tournaments. Whereas Fonseca has been practicing all week long in New York, Kecmanovic won’t have much rest after reaching the Winston-Salem quarterfinals – where he lost to Sebastian Korda 6-1, 6-4.
PICK #3: Jaqueline Adina Cristian +3.5 games over Danielle Collins (-110)
Collins does not inspire any confidence heading into the U.S. Open. The 31-year-old American lost to Taylor Townsend in the Cincinnati first round and could not even carry her own bag off the court due to a shoulder injury. Collins played in the prestigious U.S. Open mixed doubles event earlier this week and reached the semifinals with Christian Harrison, but her serve was a huge liability – she merely blooped it in just to get the point started. Although Collins won her only previous encounter with Cristian, it was a three-setter at the 2024 Madrid event. The Romanian can be competitive again… and maybe even win outright at the expense of a vulnerable opponent.
