Jannik Sinner and Alexei Popyrin square off in the second round of the US Open on Thursday, August 28. The match is tentatively scheduled to start at 12:40 p.m. ET on Arthur Ashe Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Sinner started his US Open title defense with authority and will face a better challenger in Popyrin, ranked 36th on the ATP Tour.
Find my US Open Second Round preview and Sinner vs Popyrin prediction for Thursday below.
Sinner vs Popyrin Prediction
- Sinner vs Popyrin Pick: Under 31.5 (-120)
My Sinner vs Popyrin best bet is on the under. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live US Open odds page.
Sinner vs Popyrin Odds
| Jannik Sinner Odds | -2500 |
| Alexei Popyrin Odds | +1300 |
| Spread | Sinner -7.5 (-125), Popyrin +7.5 (-105) |
| Over/Under | 31.5 (-110o / -120u) |
| Sinner-Popyrin H2H | 0-1 |
| Time | How to Watch | Thursday, 12:40 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Odds via DraftKings | |
Jannik Sinner vs Alexei Popyrin Preview, Prediction
Jannik Sinner Betting Preview
Sinner isn't only the defending US Open champion but also the current holder of the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles. If it weren't for Carlos Alcaraz's remarkable comeback from 2-0 down in the Roland Garros final, Sinner would be holding all four Grand Slams.
Sinner also crushed the competition in his only hard-court season tournament, the Cincinnati Masters 1000, until he met Alcaraz again in the decisive match. This time, illness beat him, not the Spaniard. The Italian didn't feel well and ended up retiring after losing five straight games in the first set.
His performance on Tuesday dispelled any doubts regarding his condition. Sinner dismissed Vit Kopriva in one hour and 38 minutes, with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 score line, recording seven aces and winning 83% of his first-serve points.
The world No. 1 is here to collect his second US Open title and fifth Grand Slam, and will be considered the favorite in every match in this tournament, even if the opponent's last name is Alcaraz.
Alexei Popyrin Betting Preview
Not many players can say they have a winning record against Sinner, so it's curious that Popyrin, of all people, is one of them.
The Australian won the only matchup of their head-to-head back in 2021, on a clay court at the Madrid Masters 1000. He didn't even lose a set; the score was 7-6(5), 6-2.
Of course, back then, he wasn't the Sinner we know now, although he would soon become a much better player, winning three titles on hard courts after that defeat.
However, Popyrin's claim to fame isn't restricted to that anecdote. Last year, the Australian won the Canada Masters 1000 and has won two of his three ATP Tour titles on hard courts.
This week, Popyrin beat Emil Ruusuvuori in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3), with 19 aces and 87% of his first-serve points won, which should already tell you a lot about his style of play.
Sinner vs Popyrin Prediction, Betting Analysis
Compared to the first round, this is a different level of difficulty and a better opponent for Sinner, but the Italian should fear no one in New York.
Sinner also leads the ATP in return rating and has won 31.4% of return games this year, so he can handle his rival's service game, which is the best chance Popyrin has to make it a close score.
In all other aspects of the game, particularly mobility and baseline groundstrokes, Sinner has a clear advantage and should exploit longer rallies to beat the Australian.
You could go with the spread or the under, depending on what kind of match you expect from Sinner. Popyrin might stay close in a set or two, but I don't see him taking any from the champion.
Pick: Under 31.5 (-120, DraftKings)
