Three outsiders to watch at the 2024 US Open
The US Open, the final Grand Slam of the annual tennis circuit, is on the horizon, and the usual suspects are at the top of the market as we countdown the days to Flushing Meadows.
2022 winner Carlos Alcaraz is the favourite at 11/8 as he attempts to scoop three of the four Grand Slams this season, while Australian Open victor Jannik Sinner and serial winner Novak Djokovic follow closely.
There are some dark horses outside the top three in the wagering that could be worth keeping a close eye on, though.
So, without further ado, read on as we take a look at three players who could cause an upset in New York.
Danill Medvedev
The odds of Danill Medvedev to win 2024 US Open are 5/1, making him the best of the rest behind Alcaraz, Sinner and Djokovic.
The Russian stunned Djokovic at Flushing Meadows in 2021, beating the Serb 6-4 in straight sets to secure his maiden Grand Slam title.
However, the 28-year-old hasn’t been able to add to his major tally since — losing two Australian Open finals and two Wimbledon semi-finals.
His best Grand Slam record is on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, with an 83%-win rate and he will be out to redeem his defeat to Djokovic in last year’s final.
Alexander Zverev
While he’s yet to land his first career Grand Slam, Alexander Zverev has gone close on a couple of occasions, and his price of 16/1 in the tennis odds could prove good value.
The German had one hand on the US Open title back in 2020, leading Dominic Thiem by two sets to nil, but scuppered a fantastic opportunity when going on to lose 3-2 to the Austrian.
Other opportunities have come and gone since for the 27-year-old, including in the final of this year’s French Open, in which he held a 2-1 lead over Alcaraz but, again, lost 3-2.
Zverev is one of the top-five earners of the Open Era and has won Olympic gold and two Tour titles, but there’s a sense that he now needs a Grand Slam on his CV before more time ticks on.
Casper Ruud
There’s no question that Casper Ruud’s best form is on the dirt surface. He’s finished runner-up in the French Open twice, in 2022 and 2023.
However, the 25-year-old is a former US Open finalist, having lost to Alcaraz in 2022 in a final that saw Alcaraz win his first Grand Slam title.
Given that, odds of 40/1 seem far too high for a player of his calibre, and another run deep into the latter stages of the tournament certainly isn’t off the cards.
Ruud has two victories this year, both of which came on clay in Barcelona and Geneva, but if he can discover his form from two years ago here, then he could be a danger.
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Medvedev, Zverev and Ruud know that they will have to be at their best to topple either Alcaraz, Djokovic, or Sinner. Upsets don’t often happen in men’s tennis, but you just never know.
