2023 U.S. Open Odds & Picks: A New Rivalry Shaking Up the Tennis World

It’s the last chance of the season for tennis superstars to make history in the city that never sleeps. 

New York will be home to 128 men and 128 women who will battle over a two-week span. The US Open is the final grand slam on the tennis calendar but for many, it’s the most important. 

In the heart of it all, Arthur Ashe stadium is the largest tennis court in the world with a capacity of over 23,000 rowdy New York fans. With such bright lights and media pressure, the US Open will swallow players up if they’re not ready for this big-time occasion.

An additional $5 million dollars was incentivized to this year’s prize money which now totals a whopping $65 million. Champions on both men’s and women’s side will receive $3 million dollars; a cool 15% more than last year’s $2.6 million. 

2023 US Open Betting Odds

Odds as of Aug. 26

Current world No. 1 and tennis sensation, Carlos Alcaraz, has the second-best odds to defend his title at +150.

The Spaniard is narrowly behind 23-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic who is the betting favorite at +120. The next closest odds for an outright US Open winner are +700, which means oddsmakers are telling us these two competitors are in a category of their own -- and for good reason. 

Alcaraz and Djokovic have combined to capture all 3 tennis majors this year and most recently played each other in the Cincinnati finals one week ago in one of the matches of the decade. Novak claimed the Masters 1000 title with an epic 5-7. 7-6, 7-6 win.

This effort/rally to save match point by Alcaraz was epic.

What a game! 🔥

Djokovic (-160) went on to win in the 3rd set. pic.twitter.com/zDDBtsHRJi

— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) August 21, 2023

These two also battled on grass at this year’s Wimbledon final. The 5-set, record-breaking championship match between Alcaraz and Djokovic had a peak audience of 11.3 million viewers on BBC -- the most since 2016. 

Even if you’re not someone who follows tennis on a regular basis; if you’re a fan of competition at the highest level, or a fan of two gladiator’s mere decades apart battling for hours on the world’s biggest stages, this is a potential match you shouldn’t miss.

If tennis God’s are reading, please bless us with another Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic major final.

2023 US Open Picks

While Joker and Alcaraz are very likely going to meet up in the finals, I've got a value play to could potential do some damage as well as someone to avoid.

Player to Fade: Holger Rune (+2500) 

I have no doubt the 20-year-old Danish stud will win multiple grand slam titles in his career -- it just won’t happen this season.

Rune withdrew from his second-round match in Cincinnati last week due to pain in his lower back and looked very shaky in Toronto the previous week. 

Placing a future bet on a player who is lacking hard court matches mixed with a lingering back injury is not a smart investment. 

Sleeper Value Bet: Frances Tiafoe (+4000) 

I can’t name one player who loves the spotlight or pressure points more than American Frances Tiafoe. 

Last year, the world No. 10 carried momentum all the way to his first major semi-final where he was ousted by eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. This match was a near 4.5 hour barn burner played in front of a sold-out Arthur Ashe Stadium.  

If Tiafoe can mirror a run similar to last year’s US Open, he will certainly ride the American crowd into becoming a tough out. Don’t let Big Foe get hot on American soil.

2023 Women’s US Open Odds:

Odds as of August 26

Women's US Open Value Bet: Jessica Pegula (+1000)

What if I told you that Jessica Pegula is worth more money than Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer COMBINED -- and it’s not even close.

The No. 3-ranked player in the world is daughter of billionaire mogul Terry Pegula. Terry has created a sports empire from his oil and gas fortunes. He currently owns both the NFL Buffalo Bills and NHL Buffalo Sabres.

In an interview I had with Jess, I asked about her family fortune and if she uses this wealth to her advantage; but spoiler alert… she’s just like one of us.

@oddssharkbetting A BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION. ✈️ #sports #tennis #tennistiktok #wta #buffalo #buffalobills #buffalosabres #fyp ♬ I'm Still Fly feat. Drake - Dirty - Page

Jess is considered a late-bloomer in tennis standards because she didn’t climb inside the WTA top 100 until she was 25 years old. Now, the 29-year-old is looking for her first grand slam title in her home state of New York. Just like her families Buffalo Bills -- hopefully her time is now to win a major championship.