Zhizhen Zhang v Jack Draper: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Jack Draper reached the fourth round of last year's US Open and the British number one opens this season's Flushing Meadows campaign against Zhizhen Zhang.

Draper enters the season's fourth and final Grand Slam as 25th seed and the highest-ranked British player in the men's singles.

And it has been a busy week for the British ace, who parted ways with coach Wayne Ferreira in the build-up and will now work solely with James Trotman.

Draper and his opening opponent in New York Zhizhen Zhang have never previously clashed racquets on the ATP Tour and Tuesday's matchup should not disappoint.

Zhizhen Zhang v Jack Draper betting tips and predictions

Jack Draper to win and both players to win a set - 11/10

It was a bold call from Draper to cut ties with coach Ferreira on the eve of a Grand Slam and it remains to be seen whether or not it is the right decision.

Ferreira has worked with Draper for four months, encouraging the British ace to play a more aggressive style of tennis and it has certainly reaped rewards with the 22-year-old having climbed 20 places in the ATP rankings as well as having won his maiden ATP title.

But a clash of styles between Ferreira and existing coach Trotman did not seem to work for Draper, who will now be laser-focused heading to New York.

It could be reflected on as a mistake further down the line but Draper should at least justify 1/4 favouritism in the first round of the US Open against Zhang.

Draper has had plenty of game time on the hard courts in the build-up to the US Open and was a quarter-finalist at the Cincinnati Masters earlier in August.

He beat ninth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and Canadian ace Felix Auger-Aliassime en route to the last eight and looked in good nick after an underwhelming Wimbledon.

But it is worth noting that Draper has not won a match in straight sets since his Queen's triumph over Carlos Alcaraz in June and Zhang is unlikely to go down 3-0.

Draper's run to the fourth round last year - which featured a win over Hubert Hurkacz - should fill him with confidence and he can get the better of his Chinese counterpart.

But he is unlikely to have things all his own way and he is worth backing to prevail with both players winning a set.

Over 38.5 games - 5/6

Draper should largely have control of this first-round tussle but his recent wins have not been straightforward and Zhang could certainly push the 25th seed.

Draper's three wins at the Cincinnati Masters - which were best-of-three-set contests - featured 32, 31 and 34 games.

And with the jump to a best-of-five contest at Flushing Meadows, there is a good chance the games count could go a far bit higher than that and likely higher than the games line set at 38.5.

So for punters unwilling to settle on either player to win the match, a bet on over 38.5 games could be the better approach in this first-round clash.

Draper's last two matches at the US Open in 2023 both went to four sets and if the same happens against Zhang, then overs could well cop.

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Zhizhen Zhang v Jack Draper odds

Zhizhen Zhang - 3/1
Jack Draper - 1/4

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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.