ATP Winston-Salem and U.S. Open Qualifier Tennis Odds & Picks: Carreno Busta on Upset Alert (Thursday, August 26)
Credit: Grant Halverson, Getty Pablo Carreno-Busta strikes a backhand at the Winston-Salem Open.
While the biggest tennis news of the week will likely come tomorrow with the U.S. Open draw taking place, there are still a number of high-quality matches taking place on the tour.
The Winston-Salem Open continues as does the U.S. Open qualifying draw.
Read on to see how you can find an edge in Thursday's slate of matches.
Jiri Lehecka vs. Iilya Marchenko
11 a.m. ET
A grinder of the highest order, Marchenko has been battling on tour and finding a bit of form in 2021 after a rough period. The 33-year-old has a massive edge in experience against the teenage Lehecka, and he will look to exploit that on Thursday.
Lehecka is a talented player with a high upside, but the pressure of having a U.S. Open main draw on the line could take a toll on him.
Marchenko was able to save match points and utilize his ability to stay solid in big moments in his first qualifying match, and that confidence will help him massively.
Look for Marchenko to have a slight advantage in this one with a great line to snag.
Pick: Marchenko +120 (FanDuel)
Ulises Blanch vs. Gastao Elias
12:15 p.m. ET
This is a prime opportunity to find value in a matchup that pits players of different surface preferences against each other.
Blanch is a player that likes to use his power on hard courts, winning 80% of his service games on the surface in 2020. Elias, on the other hand, has only taken 69% of his service games on hard throughout his career.
While Elias has a great ability to play long rallies from the baseline, his style leads to more success on clay rather than hard. These odds reflect a more general understanding of the two players rather than the context-specific situation.
Expect Blanch to hit through Elias and earn a shot at a final qualifying match.
Pick: Blanch -115 (BetMGM)
Pablo Carreno Busta vs. Ilya Ivashka
3 p.m. ET
In the Winston-Salem open, there's a great opportunity to tail a player that is continuing to find his zone. Ivashka absolutely pounded Jan-Lennard Struff, losing only three games. He's now 6-2 in the American hard-court swing and getting even better.
Carreno Busta, on the other hand, wasn't able to reach his highest level in his three-set victory against Soon-woo Kwon. The Spaniard may have his eyes on the upcoming slam event, giving Ivashka an even better opportunity to seize his chance at a big win.
This match plays as a coin-flip, and Ivashka has all the motivation he needs. Back the Bulgarian with great value.
Pick: Ilya Ivashka +165 (PointsBet)
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