Ben Shelton vs Herbert Hurkacz Expert Tips and Best Bets | September 2

The second round of the US Open continues on Wednesday, with the best local hope in Ben Shelton taking to the court against former top-10 player Herbert Hurkacz in one of the bigger matches of the day. That will make up one of our three best bets for the day’s action, while elsewhere we look at an Aussie underdog to continue his winning ways, and another local to advance through to the third round. Take a look at our best bets for the day below.

Alexei Popyrin vs Alejandro Tabilo: Popyrin to win | $2.15 with Betista

Popyrin got us the chocolates up against Grigor Dmitrov a couple of days ago, and we’re backing him once again here against a more highly-ranked but at times streaky opponent. Popyrin was really solid against Dmitrov, fighting back after losing the first set to win the next three reasonably comfortably. That broke a disappointing run of losses at Grand Slams this year, and gives him a chance to advance through to the third round at the US Open for the fourth time in his career. Alejandro Tabilo is not exactly an easybeat; he's seeded at this event and started with a reasonably strong win in the first round, but the Chilean is very beatable. He came into this tournament in indifferent form having lost early on in his last two tournaments, and he also doesn’t have a great record at Flushing Meadows, where he had won just one match in three years prior to that victory a couple of days ago. This match could go either way, but at better than even money with betting sites Popyrin looks like great value.

Ben Shelton vs Herbert Hurkacz: Shelton to win | $1.40 with Zoccer

A bit of a safer bet here, but one which really should get up. Both of these players have been ranked in the top-10 in the world at some point in their career, but while that point is right now for Shelton, Hurkacz finds himself just inside the top-50 after a difficult couple of years. Sporadically injured, he’s found himself unable to reach the lofty heights of yesteryear and his fourth round appearance at Wimbledon this year, while a step forward, was the first time in seven Grand Slam appearances that he’s made it past the second round. Unfortunately for the Pole, that stretch of early exits is going to be tough to avoid here. Shelton is the 8th seed and playing at his home event, carrying the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. He’s had a disappointing last couple of Grand Slams, but he’s made at least the third round in three consecutive US Opens. The confident American is comfortable in the spotlight and seems to thrive rather than wilt under the pressure that comes with playing in front of a home crowd, and should be too good against Hurkacz given the respective stages of their careers that these two are in.

Emma Navarro vs Caty McNally: Navarro to win | $1.75 with BetandPlay

We finish on an All-American matchup, and one in which there looks to be a bit of value with the betting apps. Both of these two find themselves inside the top-50 entering this event, but Navarro is a step above as a seeded player and has enjoyed far greater success at Grand Slams than her compatriot throughout her career. McNally has been a consistent presence in majors for a few years now, but she hasn’t exactly set the world on fire at them – in fact, in 13 attempts she’s made it past this point of the tournament just once, and that was in 2020. Navarro, in contrast, has three quarter-final or better appearances at Grand Slams in the past three years, including a semi-final here in 2024, while she also made the third round at this event last year. She’s a deserved favourite in this matchup, but she should be a lot shorter than what she is.