Frances Tiafoe vs Alexei Popyrin Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP US Open

Prediction published on 31/08/2024, 07:33  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 31/08/2024 at 07:59 in ATP US Open Predictions

Frances Tiafoe attempts to reach the last eight of the US Open for the third successive year. To do so, the 20th seed needs to get past 28th-seeded Alexei Popyrin. Here's our match prediction.

Popyrin caused a big shock in the last round when beating Novak Djokovic in four sets. His opponent didn't think much of his own performance but it continued the good run that the Australian has been on in recent weeks.

He won the Rogers Cup in Montreal with five top 20 ranked players beaten. Earlier this year he also made it to the semi-finals in the Doha hard court tournament. This is the first time he's made it past the third round of a Grand Slam.

Before defeating Djokovic (who he was meeting for the  third time in a Grand Slam this year), he'd beaten Kwon Soon-woo and Pedro Martinez in straight sets. Popyrin is now up to 23rd in the live rankings, equalling his career high.

Frances Tiafoe is a couple of places higher than his opponent in the live rankings and also in the ATP Race. He has an excellent record in this Grand Slam with a quarter-final last year and a semi-final in 2022.

This is the fifth year in a row in which the American has reached the fourth round in New York. He's also continuing the good form he's shown on hard courts. He reached the final in Cincinnati with a quarter-final and last four appearance before that.

Wins in this tournament have come against Miomir Kecmanovic, Alexander Shevchenko and in round three, he defeated the 13th seed Ben Shelton in five sets after losing two of the first three.

This could be a close match and we go for over 3.5 sets to be played.