Coming into this year’s US Open, a major storyline continues to enthrall the tennis world. That is the battle for the title of the best player in the world between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. The latter is the current defending US Open champion having won the championship last year in a thrilling final round over Casper Ruud. Both the Joker and Alcaraz are in prime contention for the ATP No. 1 singles ranking as the former has won two Grand Slam tournaments this year in the French and Australian Opens while the latter took home the gold at Wimbledon. However, their first-round matchups will be no walk in the park so both need to be careful not to have a dramatic exit in New York City.
For this article, SBS will be going over two first-round matches at the US Open, predicted winners of these matches, and also more notes about tennis wagering.
| US Open tennis First Round | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic vs. Alexandre Muller | Djokovic -10 | -125 | -125 | -125 |
| Carlos Alcaraz vs. Dominik Koepfer | Alcaraz -9 | -123 | -123 | -123 |
What to look for from: Novak Djokovic
As mentioned above, Djokovic has been having another fantastic year, with two Grand Slam titles already under his belt in 2023. He comes into this tournament as the No. 2 seed and has an opportunity to take home his fourth overall US Open title if he can keep the momentum going. While he lost in the finals at Wimbledon, he has a remarkable record of 20-1 at Grand Slam tournaments this year.
What to look for from: Alexandre Muller
Opposing Djokovic will be Alexandre Muller who has won multiple titles on the ATP Challenge Tour and ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour to the tune of 17 total singles and doubles titles across both circuits. Ranked as the No. 76 overall player in the world, he advanced to the second round of Wimbledon earlier this year. The 26-year-old currently maintains a record of 9-14 on the ATP Tour but has had a lot more steady success as of late.
Prediction: Djokovic should cruise easily in this matchup as he makes his journey to the title match at the US Open.
What to look for from: Carlos Alcaraz
A phenomenal player, Alcaraz is the sport’s next top star once Djokovic and Nadal call it quits. However, for now, he will have to battle with the Joker for top honors. Already a two-time Grand Slam champion at just 20 years of age, the Spaniard has had an excellent 2023, winning Wimbledon earlier this year. While he came up short in the French and Australian Opens, Alcaraz was able to knock off Djokovic at Wimbledon in an epic match. In 2023 alone, he won six tournaments, including victories at the Indian Wells Masters and also the Barcelona Open.
What to look for from: Dominik Koepfer
A product of Tulane University, Koepfer has been recognized at times as a top 50 player in the world. In terms of prior performances at the US Open, the veteran player once advanced to the fourth round of the tournament back in 2019. This year though he has had some unlucky performances at the Grand Slam tournaments, accruing a record of 0-1 and only advancing past the qualifying rounds at Wimbledon. That said, this could be the matchup where he shocks the world.
Prediction: Another matchup where there could be surprises, look for Alcaraz to demolish Koepfer and keep the good times rolling.
Once you are all dialed in regarding your US Open tennis wagers, make sure to check out the great info provided to you over at SBS. Of course, if you cannot get enough of this great tournament, then our US Open betting sites guide is a must-read for you. Here you can find the latest news and information on the Grand Slam tournament. Additionally, for those looking to get more insights on the sport all year, the tennis betting sites breakdown is a great page to learn more about all the recent betting markets on the sport. Finally, a fantastic page to always have bookmarked is the best bonus betting sites rundown which goes over the latest and great welcome bonuses. This page also includes a catalog of the recently updated welcome bonus offers.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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