Our tennis expert takes a look at the action on day two the US Open, with a strong fancy in the men's draw.
Recommended bets
3pts Escobedo to beat Chung at 7/2
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Hyeong Chung vs Ernesto Escobedo
A baffling gap in odds here for our one wager of the day.
Many will have heard of Hyeon Chung, who was a surprise semi-finalist at the Australian Open in 2018, but has dropped to 170 in the world as those points disappeared and then suffered a back injury early this year which kept him off the tour for almost six months.
The Korean has played three challenger events since resuming, with a best result of winning in Chengdu without facing a player inside the top 150, and then qualified to reach the main draw here.
Of his 11 victims over the past month, just one of those players is in the main draw here. That player is Vasek Pospisil, whom today's opponent has also beaten lately along with three others who are in the field.
Ernesto Escobedo gained a place in the tournament by winning the US Open wildcard challenge, by way of victory in the Granby Challenger and reaching the semis at Aptos.
Since the North American hardcourt swing began after Wimbledon, his record is 13-3 and approaching the end of it, he simply needed a break, pulling up with a minor quadricep injury in that semi-final loss.
Escobedo looked have the world at his feet a couple of years ago before a run of niggling injuries curtailed his form.
Since pairing up with former top 20 player Jan-Michael Gambill earlier this year and focusing on training rather than the clay and grass seasons, he has brought his game back to the top-70 ranking, where his career best so far lies.
The American challenger circuit is invariably stronger than the Asian one so in terms of recent form, that provides Escobedo with an edge. With patriotic support and expected better match conditioning for the demands of a grand slam, I think he is significantly over the odds here.
Chung has the class - we've seen that before in Australia - but until he strikes that sort of form again, he doesn't serve to be anywhere as short in the market.
Best bet: 3pts Escobedo to beat Chung at 7/2
DAY ONE
- Click the images below to have a read of our reviews of the action at Flushing Meadows...
Federer given early US Open test
Ragged Roger Federer recovered from dropping the first set of his US Open campaign to squeeze past Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal.
Williams eases past Sharapova
Serena Williams triumphed over Maria Sharapova in a US Open first-round contest as one-sided as their 15-year rivalry.
