US Open tennis: draw, predictions, betting odds and how to watch it on TV

Aug 24, 2018

As Andy Murray returns to action in New York this week, who are the favourites for the tournament?

Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Andy Murray celebrates his win against Kyle Edmund at the Citi Open in Washington DC

Andy Murray will make his return to Grand Slam tennis at the US Open next week. Having not played at a Grand Slam for over a year, the former world number one has been given a kind draw.

Murray, who is currently ranked 378, has been drawn against Australian James Duckworth in the first round – the only man in the field with a lower ranking.

“While we are not quite sure what to expect from Murray in what will be his first best-of-five-set match since Wimbledon last year, this is undeniably a gentle start,” says Stuart Fraser of The Times. “As an unseeded player, Murray could have faced any of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic in the opening round.”

Duckworth, though, will be no walkover. His ranking, like Murray’s, is the result of long-term injury problems. The 26-year-old has also been a top 100 player.

“Clearly, Murray can be grateful that he did not land a big-hitter straight off the bat. But the chances of a deep run still look remote,” says Simon Briggs in the Daily Telegraph. “Should he make it past Duckworth, he will come up against a dangerous Spaniard in his next match – either Fernando Verdasco or Feliciano Lopez – while third seed Juan Martin del Potro makes for a daunting potential third-round opponent.”

Kyle Edmund is the Brit with the best hope of making the latter stages of the tournament. He faces Paolo Lorenzi in the first round. “At the last four slams, Edmund has been the last Briton standing in either singles draw,” says Briggs. But he looks set to run into Rafa Nadal in the fourth round.

The seeding of Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic at six threatened to queer the pitch for the big guns. The Serbian tennis star has been drawn in the same quarter as Roger Federer, meaning they are expected to meet in the quarter finals, provided Federer gets past his third round opponent Nick Kyrgios.

The most “intriguing” part of the draw is in the women’s section, says The Guardian, where “Serena and Venus Williams could be headed toward their earliest grand slam meeting in 20 years, facing a potential third-round matchup at the US Open.

“If the sisters do play each other, the winner might face No 1-ranked Simona Halep in the fourth round,” says the paper.

US Open tennis

When does the US Open start?

The tournament runs from August 27 to September 9. The first round begins at 4pm UK time on Monday.

The women’s final takes place on Saturday September 8 at 9pm. The men’s final is at the same time on Sunday September 9.

The men’s final follows on Sunday 9 September at 9pm BST.

Where is it held?

The tournament takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in Flushing Meadows.

Both the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadium now have retractable roofs.

How to watch it on TV

Amazon Prime Video will have live and exclusive coverage of the tournament in the UK. Non-subscribers can sign up for a free 30-day trial.

Predictions: who will win and how will the Brits do?

With Djokovic and Federer scheduled to meet in the last eight, Nadal looks like the best bet for the title, says the Daily Mail.

Murray hasn’t played at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon last year and it remains to be seen how he copes on his return to five-set tennis. In his last outing he lost in the first round of the Cincinnati Masters to Lucas Pouille. Few predict he will make it to the latter stages of the tournament. Surviving into the second week would be an achievement.

Could Kyle Edmund take his place? “Kyle Edmund has been thriving in Murray’s absence and has broken into the top 20 in the men’s rankings. However, he has never gone beyond the fourth round in New York and as British number one will be looking to prove he can compete with the elite,” says the London Evening Standard.

In the women’s draw, Serena Williams is likely to triumph. “Jo Konta, despite a virus scare, will be hoping to go past the fourth round, her best finish to date, but it is widely expected that 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams will add to her impressive collection of honours with another singles title,” says the paper.