The final Grand Slam of the year is upon and I have three U.S. Open predictions for the first round.
The latest: Victoria Mboko is Canada’s top rising tennis star, and she’s an excellent pick to beat Barbora Krejcikova. It’s been a tough year for Yulia Putintseva, but she stares down an intriguing matchup with Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Lastly, I’m betting on Caroline Garcia to beat Kamilla Rakhimova.
Check out my U.S. Open best bets for Aug. 25 below.
US Open best bets: Aug. 25
Best Bet: Mboko -1.5 sets (+110)
Few tennis players are entering the US Open with more to feel good about than Mboko.
The Canadian has vaulted up to No. 24 in the world thanks to her win at the National Bank Open. She beat some of the world’s best players en route to her title, including Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka.
She plays a competitor in Krejcikova who, not too long ago, was considered to be one of the very best in the game.
Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam winner and former WTA No. 2 player, is having a tough campaign. The Czech star is just 8-6 overall with a middling 3-2 record on the hard courts.
She did advance to the Round of 16 in Cincinnati, but lost to Jasmine Paolini.
Before that, however, Krejcikova lost to an injured Bianca Andreescu in the first round at the National Bank Open.
Krejcikova has been struggling for a couple of years on the hardcourt now, and with this being Mboko’s preferred surface, I expect the latter to win convincingly.
Key stat: Krejcikova is only 10-9 on the hardcourt since 2024. Mboko is a dominant 28-8.
Best Bet: Putintseva vs. Cocciaretto
Putintseva to win (+120): Nothing about Putintseva’s recent play is encouraging. Let’s clear that up right away.
She may be in the worst form of any competitor entering this tournament. The Kazakhstani star has lost six consecutive matches ahead of the U.S. Open.
So why am I picking her to win?
Her opponent, Cocciaretto, isn’t faring much better. Cocciaretto has lost three of her last four matches and has a shaky record on the hardcourt.
The Italian is a brutal 24-31 on the surface since 2023, earning a losing record in each season.
At least Putintseva can point to a mediocre 48-43 record in the same timeframe.
She also owns a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over Cocciaretto, including a victory on the hardcourt in 2024.
US Open picks: Rakhimova vs. Garcia
Garcia to win (+120): Here’s another tight matchup between two struggling players.
Garcia is in the midst of her worst career year. She’s 4-7 on the hardcourt and has lost three of her last four matches.
Rakhimova isn’t doing much better. She’s 9-13 on this surface and has dropped two of her last three contests.
So why would I side with Garcia?
The plus-money odds help, for one.
Secondly, Garcia does have a track record of success at Flushing Meadows. She advanced to the semifinals at the U.S. Open not too long ago (2022).
Lastly, her head-to-head history against Rakhimova is a huge plus. Garcia is a perfect 2-0 against Rakhimova, including a victory against her at this tournament on her semifinal run three years ago.
U.S. Open best bets made at 10:57 a.m. on 08/24/2025.
Stevie’s an avid NFL, NHL, and tennis bettor who has no problem talking himself into the underdog. His previous stops include Yahoo! Sports Canada and Toronto Metropolitan University, where he received a degree in Sport Media.