Radu Albot v Novak Djokovic: Prediction, Tips and Odds

The best of the best will be descending on New York on Monday as the final Grand Slam of the year gets under way at Flushing Meadows, with defending men's singles champion Novak Djokovic one of the big guns in action on the opening day.

Djokovic capped off a brilliant Grand Slam campaign in 2023 by adding his fourth US Open title to the Australian and French Open crowns he had won earlier in the year.

He also had demonstrated his all-round brilliance by reaching the Wimbledon final on the way - although his defeat to Carlos Alcaraz at the All England Club meant he fell one title short of the full set in a calendar year for the fourth time in his career.

The Serbian superstar went on to win the ATP Finals also to suggest his reign at the top was far from over, but that had been brought back to the fore following a disappointing 2024 by his ridiculously high standards.

Despite having gone without a title through Wimbledon, Djokovic avenged his second successive defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the final at All England Club by winning the one thing that had eluded him in his long and illustrious career - Olympic gold.

Surely now buoyed by that victory, Djokovic heads to Flushing Meadows with renewed confidence and support, something enhanced by what has been perceived as a softer draw than his biggest rivals for the title.

The world number two opens his title defence on the opening day against veteran Radu Albot and he should have few problems progressing to the second round.

Radu Albot v Novak Djokovic betting tips and predictions

Novak Djokovic to win and under 27.5 total games - 5/6

This looks a mighty mismatch and it is hard to imagine what would be one of the biggest shocks in the history of tennis occurring in the early hours of Tuesday morning, and that is reflected in the betting with Djokovic as short as 1/100 to win, while a 3-0 success is priced at 3/10.

Although the US Open has not been the favourite venue of Djokovic, he still boasts four titles as well as six further appearances in the final. Albot has only passed the first round once in nine previous main draw appearances - back in 2017 when he made it to the third round.

Albot has some degree of confidence having managed to come through qualifying to reach the big show at Flushing Meadows but it is worth noting that he was taken to a deciding set in each of his three matches, having been bageled in his second round clash against Luca Van Assche in the set he lost.

The Moldovan veteran reached the main draw at Flushing Meadows last season but was beaten 6-1 6-4 6-3 by Great Britain's Jack Draper and with Djokovic representing the biggest test there can be in the men's game, a similar outcome is expected.

Novak Djokovic to win under 18.5 games - 4/5

With Djokovic expected to dominate this first-round clash from the get-go, there are a few ways to play his superiority with a break of Albot's first service game a tempting option at 11/8.

However, limiting the risk on a overs/unders market, the second play is to back Djokovic to beat the world number 138 in straight sets without the threat of a tie-break.

The 37-year-old went into Wimbledon with doubts over his fitness as he returned from injury but still dispatched the 118th-ranked Vit Kopriva 6-1 6-2 6-2, while he opened his Olympic campaign with a 6-0 6-1 win over Matthew Ebden.

Djokovic can start another tournament with the minimum of fuss as he prepares for bigger tests to come, and go through in straight sets in easy enough fashion.

Read more tennis betting tips and predictions on site.

Radu Albot v Novak Djokovic odds

Radu Albot - 25/1
Novak Djokovic - 1/100

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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.