Stan Wawrinka looks set to make his final Grand Slam appearance after being granted a late wildcard for the US Open, but the veteran Swiss faces a stern opening test against Matteo Berrettini.
Wawrinka won his third Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2016, but he has endured first-round exits in five of his last six major appearances and Berrettini will be expected to put his younger legs to good use.
The Italian is a former Grand Slam runner-up himself, having lost to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2021, while recurring injuries have halted his progress since then.
Berrettini, a former world number six, has slipped down to world number 49, but a quarter-final run at this year's French Open highlights what he is still capable of.
Matteo Berrettini v Stan Wawrinka Tips Summary
Best Bet - Matteo Berrettini to win & over 38.5 games @ 13/10
Alternative Bet - Over 1.5 tiebreaks @ 7/4
Bet Builder - Four sets, 15+ aces for Matteo Berrettini & 5+ double faults in match @ 10/3
Matteo Berrettini v Stan Wawrinka Prediction
Best Bet: Matteo Berrettini to win & over 38.5 games @ 13/10
These two players met in the first round at Wimbledon in June, with Berrettini prevailing 3-1, but each of those four sets went to a tiebreak.
Wawrinka will be keen to go out on a high in what looks set to be his final ever Grand Slam appearance, but Berrettini has looked to be in improved form in recent months and is still capable of producing high-class performances.
The Italian excels on serve but Wawrinka is a warrior, even at 41 years of age showing why he was capable of winning three Grand Slam titles in his prime.
Berrettini should strip fitter than the Swiss veteran despite having injury tendencies and he was a quarter-finalist at the French Open before making round three at Wimbledon, where he was unfortunate to lose in five sets to Grigor Dimitrov.
The Italian can win a lengthy battle as both players have won a set in their two meetings and Berrettini's win over Wawrinka at Wimbledon featured 52 games.
Alternative Bet: Over 1.5 tiebreaks @ 7/4
Given that there were four tiebreaks in Berrettini's win over Wawrinka at Wimbledon, it may be wise to expect another couple of lengthy sets in New York.
Berrettini's four wins at the French Open in May and June also featured a total of six tiebreaks and they are common themes in his matches given he is so difficult to break.
Wawrinka is the true definition of a battler and will give his all. His last win came against Dalibor Svrcina in a Cancun Challenger two weeks ago and both sets in that 2-0 victory went to a tiebreak.
Matteo Berrettini v Stan Wawrinka Bet Builder Tip
Four sets
15+ aces for Matteo Berrettini
5+ double faults in match
Pays 10/3
Berrettini defeated Wawrinka in four sets at SW 19 in June and it could be a similar scenario at Flushing Meadows. Both players have won a set in the Italian's last six matches.
Berrettini fired in 29 aces in that clash at the All England Club and serving remains a real asset to his game.
Finally, there should be at least five double faults. There were 11 when they locked horns at Wimbledon and Wawrinka will feel the need to hold with Berrettini so difficult to break.
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Key Match Stats
Stan Wawrinka has lost all of his last seven matches
Matteo Berrettini won in four sets when these two met at Wimbledon in June
Both players have won a set in four of Wawrinka's last six matches and in all of Berrettini's last six
Berrettini has won seven of his last 10 completed matches
There have been 11 tiebreaks across Berrettini's last eight matches
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
