US Open betting for Thursday: Go for the underdogs

US Open betting for Thursday: Go for the underdogs By Zachary Cohen, VSiN September 2, 2026 - 2:48 pm Rain and vigor have been prominent storylines at the U.S. Open so far, but the tournament has moved into its second round, and several Thursday matchups present appealing underdog moneylines. **Alexei Popyrin vs. Alejandro Tabilo** This matchup is compelling because Tabilo has clearly been the stronger player this season. He owns a 26‑22 record and has risen to No. 28 in the ATP rankings. Popyrin, by contrast, sits at 11‑19 for the year and has fallen to No. 130. Nevertheless, Popyrin’s résumé includes a previous 1000‑level title and a career‑high ranking of No. 19 in August 2025. His career‑best Elo rating of 1902.2 also edges Tabilo’s 1895.7, indicating that when Popyrin is at his peak he can outplay the Chilean. Despite his modest 2026 record, Popyrin showed his capability in the opening round, defeating Grigor Dimitrov 3‑6, 6‑3, 6‑2, 6‑4. The 27‑year‑Australian displayed solid return play, a vital skill given how difficult he is to break. If Popyrin can use his size to meet a significant portion of Tabilo’s serves, he could neutralize the Chilean’s serve advantage. He should also be able to capitalize on Tabilo’s notoriously weak second serve and attack the backhand with big, flat groundstrokes from the baseline. Adding to Popyrin’s prospects, Tabilo struggles as a returner, which could make tiebreakers favor the Australian. **Bet:** Popyrin ML (+126) **Jan‑Lennard Struff vs. Francisco Cerundolo** Struff has repeatedly proven himself a tough competitor at major events, most recently reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals a few months ago and advancing to the fourth round at last year’s U.S. Open. Even with a challenging season, his recent 6‑4, 6‑3, 6‑3 victory over Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the opening round suggests he can elevate his game when needed. Cerundolo, while talented, has faltered since capturing the Queen’s Club crown, posting a 2‑4 record with several losses coming as no‑shows. His 6‑4, 6‑3, 7‑5 win over a battered Filip Misolic in the first round did little to inspire confidence. Struff’s strategy should center on holding serve, generating unreturnable points, and moving to the net to finish points. From the baseline, his aggressive style will look to exploit any shaky moments from Cerundolo. The contrast in playing styles and Struff’s straightforward approach makes a wager in the +140 range attractive. **Bet:** Struff ML (+143) **Dalibor Svrcina vs. Luciano Darderi** This contest leans more toward a wager against Darderi than an endorsement of Svrcina. The Italian recently suffered a 6‑1, 6‑0 defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp in Winston‑Salem, highlighting his ongoing search for consistent hard‑court form. Darderi’s hard‑court record stands at 17‑37 in ATP main‑draw matches, and the formidable forehand that serves him well on clay has not translated to the faster surface. Svrcina, however, presents a difficult matchup for Darderi. He is an effective returner capable of making Dardelo uncomfortable on serve, possesses quick groundstrokes, and takes the ball early—traits that should keep Darderi on the defensive. Svrcina also acclimated well to the venue during the previous week, having navigated qualifying and logged three practice matches to adjust to the conditions. **Bet:** Svrcina ML (+128)  VSiN, The Sports Betting Network