Free US Open betting tips: Preview of day one at Flushing Meadows including Steve Johnson v John Isner

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2pts Steve Johnson to beat John Isner at 19/10

1pt Peter Gojowczyk to win the first set v Hubert Hurkacz at 5/2

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Steve Johnson v John Isner

Steve Johnson looks one of the best underdogs on Monday’s order of play.

A friend and Davis Cup team-mate of John Isner, Johnson has a strong knowledge of his game and has used that to his advantage in the past, collating a 5-4 win-loss record against him. On hardcourts, the gap opens to 4-2.

Isner’s tie-break strength has also been negated in their head-to-head – Johnson leads on that count too, which is good news given that 11 of their 23 sets have gone the distance.

That said, the chance of tie-breaks has surely been reduced by this match being scheduled for Louis Armstrong Stadium, a court which played considerably slower than the outside courts during last week’s Western and Southern Open.

Despite Johnson’s impressive tie-break record, you have to think he benefits from a slower court in this match-up.

The younger American won two Challenger titles on hardcourt before lockdown, while during the enforced break he claimed the scalps of two other big servers, Taylor Fritz and Reilly Opelka, at the All-American Cup exhibition event.

He should be relishing this clash and 19/10 about the upset looks worth taking.

Peter Gojowczyk v Hubert Hurkacz

These days few players come forward like Gojowczyk and that attacking game style looks capable of causing Hurkacz some early problems in this contest.

Hurkacz has struggled against some of the biggest servers this season – in his last four tournaments he’s lost to John Isner, Alexander Bublik, Vasek Pospisil and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Gojowczyk may not quite belong in that bracket but he’s capable of cranking it up to 130mph and on the slick Laykold courts which now adorn Flushing Meadows, he should be able to trouble the Pole, who was beaten in straight sets by John Millman at the Australian Open in January.

Gojowczyk’s serve-volley tactics should come into their own in these conditions and I feel the German is good value to grab the first set at 5/2.

Posted at 0930 BST on 30/08/20

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