US Open Predictions 2022: SportsTips’ Top Tennis Picks For Round 2

We have reached Round 2 here at the US Open for 2022, and there were a few surprising results in the previous round with a handful of top seeds having already been eliminated from the Grand Slam. The defending champion on the women’s side, Raducanu, was knocked out in straight sets. 

While on the men’s side of the draw, the fourth seed, Tsitsipas, went down in four sets, which included losing the first set 0-6. Round 2 is sure to bring more upsets, but which seeds will prove too good for the unseeded players, we are going to find out soon!

Enjoy our free tennis picks and predictions for each round at the US Open for the 2022 season.

Round 2 Tennis Picks at the US Open: Men’s Draw

Andy Murray vs Emilio Nava

Andy Murray has successfully navigated his way into the second round, and his opponent is American Emilio Nava. Murray dispatched 24th seed, Cerúndolo, in straight sets. For the American, it was a five set blockbuster with Australian, Millman, with two of the five sets going to a tiebreaker.

Aleksandar Ricliev

Andy Murray used to be one of the best tennis players in the world. Scrappy, passionate, and never giving up, Murray was an absolute menace on the court and a scary opponent for everyone. Countless injuries after; he’s just not the same player anymore. The mind is still willing, but the body is incapable of producing the same ability as it used to. However, if we take away the past, Andy Murray has had a pretty good year. He has been relatively healthy, and he has put some impressive performances on display. He lost in the finals in Stuttgart’s ATP tournament in a tight match to Berrettini. Also, in the previous rounds, he took care of Nick Kyrgios and Stephanos Tsitsipas quite remarkably. 

Emilio Nava is a young American tennis prospect. He hasn’t yet made a name for himself in the tennis world and usually loses in the first rounds in the more prominent tournaments. This time, he muscled through Millman in the previous match in 5 sets, but Murray represents an entirely different challenge. I believe this is a complete mismatch, and Murray will win this by a slide. I am picking Andy Murray to cover the game spread. 

Denis Kirilov

Andy Murray made a decent comeback to the US Open with an easy 3-0 win in the first round over Francisco Cerundolo. The 35-year-old Brit has had a fantastic year so far, reaching the Final in two tournaments – back in January in Sydney on hard court and months later in Stuttgart on grass. Following wins over Tsitsipas and Kyrgios this season, Murray has given us a glimpse of his best years on the Tour. Despite his hip issues, he remains one of the most consistent baseliners in the ATP. Murray hasn’t lost his serve throughout the years as he is still quite dangerous for his opponents when they need to receive. 

The last piece of the renowned top 4 of men’s tennis will come up against Emilio Nava from the United States. World No. 203 entered the US Open via a Wild Card as he defeated John Millman in 5 sets in the opening round, upsetting the much more experienced Australian in two tiebreaks. The 20-year-old Nava has enjoyed his greatest breakthrough in his ATP career so far as he made his first top 200 debut. Nava also paved his way past his opponents in Shymkent in Kazakhstan to win his maiden Challenger title this year. However, he has little to no experience at Grand Slams with his only matches being played during this and the previous edition of the US Open. Last time, he lost in 4 sets against Lorenzo Musetti and I think that his fairytale will once again come up short. Murray will be determined to prove he is not done yet and I will pick him to cover his spread on Wednesday. 

Jack Hartman

After a tough American hard court season, Andy Murray returned to form following a dominant win in Round 1 over the 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo. It turned out to be a comfortable victory for the former world number one who now faces the challenge of the relatively unknown Emilio Nava for a place in Round 3. Murray has made no secret of his love for this tournament and it almost seemed fitting that his Grand Slam breakthrough came at this venue ten years ago. Ten years on, and Murray has had his fair share of trials and tribulations. Now 35 and at 51 in the world, Father Time is working against the Scot and we are unsure of how many times we will see him at Flushing Meadows. 

Coming up against Nava, he faces a young American who is looking to make a name for himself this fortnight. Earning his place in the draw courtesy of a Wild Card, Nava battled hard to beat and outlast John Millman. That win came in five sets and was his first ever Grand Slam win. It’s unknown how much that match would have taken out of Nava but he will be a dangerous foe for Murray as he has nothing to lose. Murray should come through, but expect it to be tight along the way.

Federico Coria vs Carlos Alcaraz (3)

Unseeded Federico Coria faces a massive challenge in the second round when he takes on teenage sensation and third seed, Carlos Alcaraz. Coria made quick work of his first round opponent, Griekspoor, winning in three easy sets. Alcaraz was up two sets and a break in the third before his opponent, Baez, had to retire.

Aleksandar Ricliev

Carlos Alcaraz is one of the most prominent rising stars in world tennis. Super aggressive, attacking, and commanding, Carlos’s play style reminds me of a wrecking ball. If you let him get in his stride and get comfortable, there is nothing you can do to stop him. Alcaraz started this year on a special note. He was the champion of Madrid’s ATP tournament, and on the way to the finals, he went through all the favorites. First, it was Nadal in the quarterfinals, then Djokovic in the semifinals, and last but not least, Zverev in the finals suffered his wrath. Since then, he’s had some up-and-down moments, but I have no doubt he will be coming to the US Open with a championship in his mind.

Federico Coria comes to the US open with nothing to lose. He is an experienced tennis player who knows his limits, and I don’t believe losing to Alcaraz will cause him many sleepless nights. Coria has had some success in the past playing in smaller tournaments with weaker opposition, but I don’t believe he’s a match for Alcaraz. I’ve got Alcaraz winning this match and covering the games spread. 

Denis Kirilov

Federico Coria made one of the biggest upsets in the first round of the 2022 US Open. He was a +600 chance to defeat Tallon Griekspoor and he managed to do so in straight sets. The World No. 78 is a renowned clay-court player who typically struggles to keep up the high intensity rate on faster courts. This was his second hard court win for the season following his 2-0 win over Pablo Cuevas earlier in March in Indian Wells. 

On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz struggles to easily assert his dominance at Grand Slams. He eventually fights back for the victory in the end, but his game still needs quite a bit of polishing before being compared to the greatest in the world of tennis. Alcaraz is a fantastic all-round player who relies much on his strength and consistency from the baseline. He has drawn several comparisons between himself and the top 3 as many tennis experts see him as a World No. 1 one day. Even though he seems to be a great favorite to make it into the third round, I think that he will have a hard time in the opening set against Coria. 

Jack Hartman

A year ago at the 2021 US Open Carlos Alcaraz announced himself on the world stage by reaching the quarterfinals. Eventually the young Spaniard would be forced to retire in his match against Felix Auger-Aliassime but on his way to the quarters he would beat Stefanos Tsitsipas and Cam Norrie. Fast forward a year and Alcaraz is seeded three and has enjoyed tremendous success on the American hard courts winning his first ATP 1000 event in Miami. Despite clay being his preferred surface, Alcaraz with his huge forehand and stunning athleticism clearly thrives on the harder surface. 

A contender for this year’s title, Alcaraz’s tournament got started with a low-key win over Sebastian Baez who was forced to retire from the match after losing the first two sets. Next for Alcaraz is the Argentine Federico Coria. On paper this should be a match that Alcaraz absolutely dominates. The two play in a very similar way but Alcaraz does it a lot better. Coria is a solid baseline player but lacks the weapons to trouble and hurt the Spaniard. This should be a match that Alcaraz breezes through.

Grigor Dimitrov (17) vs Brandon Nakashima

The 17th seed, Grigor Dimitrov, will be hoping to spoil the party of local favorite Brandon Nakashima. Dimitrov has already beaten an American at the US Open, claiming a straight sets victory over Johnson. Nakashima also had a straight sets victory, beating Kotov in three comfortable sets.

Aleksandar Ricliev

On a good day, Grigor Dimitrov is one of the best tennis players in the world period. However, in the last few years, there seem to be fewer and fewer good days. The Bulgarian has always been a massive superstar in his country, he loves being rich and famous, and I think that has affected his performances over the years. I honestly do believe he had the talent to be one of the best tennis players ever. In the first round, he had a pretty easy match against Johnson, he didn’t even break a sweat, and it was over in an hour and a half. 

Brandon Nakashima is one of the many up-and-coming American tennis prospects. I love the improvement I keep seeing in his game. He was imposing at Wimbledon, winning over Shapovalov relatively quickly and losing to Kyrgios in 5 long sets. I think this matchup can be one of the best games in this round. A must-see showdown between two outstanding competitors, hard-fought and – one for the classics. I think this will be a long game, so my prediction is for over total games. 

Denis Kirilov

Grigor Dimitrov might have finally found his winning rhythm which will give him the opportunity to attack the throne at this year’s US Open. The 31-year-old Bulgarian has been one of the biggest disappointments in tennis history as many expected him to win at least one Grand Slam throughout the course of his career. However, his playing style has always pleased our eyes, but he didn’t find the right recipe to make it work for him and stop the never-ending reign of the top 3. Dimitrov is known for his all-round game that relies much on his flexibility, athleticism, and unpredictability. 

Dimitrov will surely come into the second round in a high mood following his 3-0 win over Steve Johnson. However, he will need to face off against Brandon Nakashima who has had a fantastic year so far. The 21-year-old American reached the fourth round of Wimbledon before being ousted by the runner-up, Nick Kyrgios, in five sets. On top of that, he achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 49 back in July. Nakashima will seek revenge for his straight set loss to Dimitrov in Rome this year, but in my opinion, he will need to play above his limits to do so. Hence, I will pick Grigor Dimitrov as the winner of this battle. 

Jack Hartman

A tough match awaits in Round 2 as Grigor Dimitrov takes on the promising American Brandon Nakashima. At just 21, the American looks to have a bright future ahead of him and he will have no fears heading into this match against the talented Bulgarian. Handed a nice draw to start this year’s tournament, Nakashima brushed aside qualifier Pavel Kotov in three comfortable sets. Nakashima would have been pleased to advance so quickly considering his form in the lead up to the tournament hasn’t been particularly strong. To make the leap to the next level of the game, Nakashima needs to be more consistent so he will relish the opportunity to string back to back wins together here.

Now in his thirties, time is quickly running out for Grigor Dimitrov to make his mark at the game’s highest level. A semifinalist back in 2019, Dimitrov has the ability and game to make a deep run this year. Dimitrov was also a comfortable winner in Round 1, swatting away Steve Johnson in three easy sets. This matchup against Nakashima gives the Bulgarian the chance to beat another American. The two have played just once and it was Dimitrov who came out on top. That match was played on clay and this match should be a whole lot closer. The match could go either way but we will back the experience of Dimitrov to just about come through. 

Round 2 Tennis Picks at the US Open: Women’s Draw

Wang Xiyu vs Maria Sakkari (3)

Unseeded Wang will be up against it in the second round, when she takes on the third seed, Maria Sakkari. Wang was down a set in the first round, but was able to come back and beat Parry. Sakkari also played a three set match in the first round, after dropping the second set to Maria, but in the third seed managed to come back and win 6-0.

Aleksandar Ricliev

This year has been a real struggle for Maria Sakkari. Since losing the finals in Indian Wells to Swiatek, she seems to have lost her confidence and has yet to regain it. She comes to this tournament as the third overall favorite but had some problems even in the first round. Her performance left us with more questions than answers. Sure, in sport – especially in women’s tennis it takes only a moment for just a little spark to start a substantial unstoppable fire. Will that happen in this tournament? Who knows. I sure hope so. When Maria Sakkari is at her best, she is an absolute pleasure to watch.

I believe Xiyu Wang comes into this match as a complete outsider. I love her playstyle; she has excellent tenacity, is aggressive, is good on defense, and never gives up. But her technical abilities and power are no match for Maria Sakkari. It’s women’s tennis, so you can never be sure about anything, but I see this match as a swinging practice for Sakkari, with Wang trying her best to defend and prolong the points. I’ve got Sakkari winning easily. My prediction is that the first set is won by Sakkari, 6-1.

Denis Kirilov

Wang Xiyu has made a decent comeback win over Diane Parry in the first round as she will now have to push it all the way to her limits in order to deal with Maria Sakkari from Greece. Wang is in the best year of her life progressing to World No. 75 in August, as she will most likely top that achievement following her second career Round of 64 at a Grand Slam tournament. Even though she is a top 100 player, the 21-year-old Chinese continues playing in the ITF circuit from time to time. Wang is yet to make this inevitable transition to the WTA which might turn out to be a tough experience in the end. 

On the other hand, Maria Sakkari has put in a lot of work into her game throughout the past year. She has reached two Grand Slam semifinals in 2021 which further helped her top her highest-career ranking as she is currently 3rd in the world. The 27-year-old Greek has gradually picked up her rhythm in New York throughout the course of her career as she will certainly hope to make it deep into the tournament this time. However, she seems to be slightly out of form right now which was seen in her first round struggles against Tatjana Maria. I personally think that these issues will transfer into the upcoming match which will be yet another tough challenge for her. 

Jack Hartman

We almost saw a shock in Round 1 in this year’s women’s draw as third seed Maria Sakkari was pushed into a third set against Wimbledon semi finalist Tatjana Maria. Despite losing the second set, the world number three showed all of her class to win the final set 6-0 and set this opportunity up against Chinese player Wang Xiyu. Sakkari has had a rough season and although she is the third seed in the tournament, she hasn’t been at her brilliant dominant best. Yet to win a Grand Slam, she will need to rediscover her best form quickly if she is to set the record straight here. 

In Wang Xiyu she faces a tricky customer. Wang has some decent hard court form having reached the semifinals of the WTA Washington event. Clearly confident, she has brought her good form to New York where she managed to outlast young French starlet Diane Parry in three hard fought sets. This is the first time the two have ever faced off and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Wang was to get the win. Despite Sakkari’s poor season, she will be determined to end the year on a high and she should have too much class for her opponent here. 

Elena-Gabriela Ruse vs Coco Gauff (12)

Unseeded Romanian, Elena-Gabriela Ruse, will face off against crowd favorite, Coco Gauff. Ruse was able to come back from a set down against Australian, Gavrilova, to win in three sets. It was a dream opening round for American, Gauff, as she beat Jeanjean in two easy sets.

Aleksandar Ricliev

Cori Gauff comes into this tournament as one of the favorites to win it. She’s an impeccable athlete—long, quick, agile, solid, and powerful. Suppose she works on her decision-making and overall tactical knowledge of the game of tennis. In that case, I believe she can follow in Serena Williams’s footsteps and undoubtedly become the best tennis player in the world. In the first round, she had an entertaining match against the French representative Jeanjean. I expect her to grow into the tournament and improve her performance in the following games, starting with this one. 

Elena Gabriela Ruse is not an opponent you should underestimate, no matter how good you are. The Romanian star has been on the tennis scene for a long time, and even at the young age of twenty-four, she has impressive experience behind her. She is a regular participant in all the major tournaments and she is always a tough out. The last time the two met at Wimbledon, Gauff went through with a 2-1 hard-fought win. I believe this is a closer matchup than the odds showcase. I have Gauff winning 2-1 after a hard battle. 

Denis Kirilov

Elena Gabriela Ruse fought back for an amazing comeback win over Daria Saville in the opening round of this year’s US Open. With this victory, she managed to put an end to her negative 5-game losing streak. The 24-year-old Romanian might have been just one step away from a top 50 debut this year, but she also suffered a huge hit to her ambitions at the same time. Ruse has won just once in more than three months, which raises some red flags for her. She will look to make it into the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, but this seems like a really tough task as she will need to deal with Coco Gauff. 

Considered by many as the next big name for the United States’ tennis, Coco Gauff slowly, but surely paves her way into the WTA Tour. The 18-year-old teenager reached her maiden Grand Slam Final in 2022 after defeating all players but one at the French Open. Gauff has improved her playing style over the course of her career which certainly gives her even better options for the near future. Even at the age of 18, she can be considered one of the most experienced players among her colleagues. However, despite her success overseas, Gauff is yet to make her debut into the second week in New York. I think 2022 might be the perfect moment to do so and I see her achieving that in high fashion.  

Jack Hartman

With the impending retirements of both Serena and Venus Williams, the torch of American women’s tennis will be passed to Coco Gauff. Despite being on the Tour for what seems like years, it’s easy to forget that Gauff is just eighteen years old and has a hugely exciting future ahead of her. Gauff is a major winner waiting to happen and it wouldn’t be a surprise if that breakthrough were to come at this year’s US Open. Gauff knows what it takes to go deep in a Grand Slam following her run to this year’s French Open final and she will be hoping to build on that experience here. Seeded twelve for this year’s tournament, she made quick work of French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean in the first round but faces a tricky opponent here. 

Elena-Gabriela Ruse advanced to the second round of this year’s US Open thanks to a victory over the gritty Daria Saville. With a game packed full of variety, she will be hoping to cause Gauff all sorts of issues by offering a varied pace packed full of slices and spins. The two met earlier this year on the grass of Wimbledon and it was Gauff that was the victor that day in three tight sets. Gauff should advance again and back on her favorite surface; it should be a whole lot easier this time around. 

Serena Williams vs Anett Kontaveit (2)

The run continues on for Serena Williams as retirement is just around the corner, and this time her opponent is none other than the second seed, Anett Kontaveit. Williams had a great opening round, beating Kovinić in two easy sets. It was a similar story for Kontaveit, who beat Cristian in the opening round, and only dropped three games for the entire match. 

Aleksandar Ricliev

The 40 years old Serena Williams had a decent showing against Kovincic. She feeds off the energy of the electric atmosphere produced by the crowd. One last hoorah before retiring, the stories in the newspaper write themselves. I am not sure how much she has left in the tank, but if there is one woman tennis player to bet on to beat the odds, Serena would be a safe choice. 

Anna Kontaveit comes to the US Open as the second favorite to win it. In the last showing versus the Romanian representative, Cristian, she was absolutely mesmerizing. She served really well, winning 23 of the 27 first serves. Combined with her always impressive movement in the field, I do think Serena has her work cut out for her. Kontaveit has reached ten finals in the last two years, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her reach the finals in this tournament. This tennis spectacle of a match is a must-see for everyone. I do expect Serena Williams, carried by the support of the fans, to put up a fight, but I still see her losing the match. I have Kontaveit winning 2-1.

Denis Kirilov

This year’s US Open will be Serena Williams’ tennis swan song. The 40-year-old American will remain the second-most decorated woman in tennis history with her 23 Grand Slam titles, sitting just one short of Margaret Court. Williams has made several attempts to break that record, but she was unsuccessful in each one of her last four attempts when reaching the Final. After suffering a horrendous injury at Wimbledon in 2021, Serena has not been the same player as before. However, she managed to book her spot into the second round with a clean 2-0 win over Danka Kovinic during the first night session. 

Anett Kontaveit might be one of the names that Serena would have loved to hear as her opponent at the US Open. The World No. 2 has been having several issues at Grand Slams this year as she wasn’t able to surpass the second round just yet. The strong Estonian lifted the trophy in St. Petersburg earlier in 2022 and she only made it into the Final match once more when she was ousted by Bernarda Pera in Hamburg. Kontaveit is certainly not the same merciless player as before and I think that Serena will take something out of this match. 

Jack Hartman

Serena Williams’ potential farewell tour was extended for another day when she beat Danka Kovinic in straight sets in Round 1. Her performance against the tricky Kontaveit was solid and Williams will be pleased with how she served and struck the ball. The stage is set for what could be her last career match. In Round 2 she faces the second seed Anett Kontaveit in what is bound to be an incredibly tough match. 

Kontaveit burst to the top of the women’s game last year after last year’s US Open. She won titles in St Petersburg, Moscow, Cleveland and Ostrava, and reached the final of the WTA Tour finals. Things have been a whole lot tougher for the Estonian this year who looks to have found life at the very top of the game difficult. Kontaveit likes fast, quick surfaces so she should be right at home on the quick courts of Flushing Meadows. Her best performance at the US Open came in 2020 where she reached the fourth round. Kontaveit beat Jaqueline Cristian in two easy sets in Round 1 and should be confident heading into this heavyweight clash. Kontaveit knows she will have to play against the American crowd as well as her illustrious opponent, and it will be fascinating to see how she responds to the challenge. 

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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.