The First Serve: DraftKings DFS Tennis Picks for 8/31/2021 (US Open Day 2)

Hey there, RotoBallers! I am Brandon Wampler and I have been playing Tennis DFS since the beginning! I hope you caught my debut article here at RotoBaller yesterday and that you had some success navigating a tricky Day 1 of the Open as there were landmines galore.

Today we will continue chipping away at the US Open with a crazy 43-match slate after Jennifer Brady withdrew from her match on the WTA side. Please keep in mind that during majors there will be big upsets and crazy 6/6 lineups. It is encouraged to think outside the box during these tournaments, but not too much. All ATP matches are set to a Best-Of-5 and all WTA matches are set to a Best-Of-3. After the crazy first day of the US Open with upsets left and right, that theme should continue into Day 2 as well. 

In this article, you will find my favorite high-priced, mid-tier, and cheap plays for the DraftKings DFS Tennis slate on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Without any further ado, let's get into the picks!

High Priced DFS Tennis Picks ($10K+)

Alexander Zverev(4) DK: $11,100 vs Sam Querrey DK: $3,700

This matchup is a no-brainer and Zverev should be one of the highest owners players even bringing price into consideration. Querrey has been in terrible form and the only thing he remotely comes close to Zverev in is his ace ability. Otherwise, Zverev dominates all facets of the game and he should prove too steep of a battle for the American.

Expected Outcome: Zverev 3-0

Mid-Tier DFS Tennis Picks ($8K-$10K)

Alexander Bublik(31) DK:$9,900 vs Yannick Hanfmann DK:$4,900

Thanks to the plethora of talent in the pool for this slate, we get Bublik at a discount. Not only is he playing Yannick Hanfmann who has won a single hard court match all year, but Bublik also has one of the best serving games on the slate. Neither side has been in great form, but this is the shining moment for Bublik to become a household name once again.

Expected Outcome: Bublik 3-0

Denis Kudla DK:$8,600 vs Laslo Djere DK:$6,400

Because of how close this matchup could be, I would rather bet the dog than anything else, but Djere has been downright awful. He has still won 6 of his last 10 matches, but his form has dropped and he has also dropped his last three matches. The part that truly concerns me is Kudla’s returning game. He is sporting a solid 14.9% Ace Against, something that we do not need no matter the talent level. I will be leaning Kudla here, but do not be afraid to have exposure to both.

Expected Outcome: Kudla 3-1

Cheap Favorites ($7K-$8K)

Nuria Parrizas-Diaz DK:$7,700 vs Varvara Gracheva DK:$7,200

Both players are climbing in form lately, but Parrizas-Diaz has taken the extra step. PD has won 8 of her last 10 matches and Gracheva has won 5 of his last 10 matches. In a perfect world, Parrizas should win in straight sets, but Gracheva may prove to be tougher than originally expected. Nonetheless, Nuria is priced much lower in the salary range and it could unlock dangerous lineup combinations.

Expected Outcome: Parrizas-Diaz 2-1

The Dog House (Underdog Values)

Karen Khachanov(25) DK:$8,700 vs Lloyd Harris DK:$6,200

With the extreme price difference in this matchup, it is a dog or pass here. Both players are too similar in their form and play right now to truly pick one over the other. The only major difference between the two is the excellent serving that Harris has been having lately. Harris holds one of the top Aces For% at a strong 13.4% in the field. With Khachanov struggling throughout the season in his returning game, this is an excellent opportunity for Harris to take advantage.

Expected Outcome: Harris 3-2

Albert Ramos DK:$7,800 vs Lucas Pouille DK:$7,100

Typically in most slates I am fading Lucas Pouille as much as I possibly can, however, on this slate I am trying to play him as much as I can. For whatever reason Pouille is a dog against Ramos who has only won 2 of his 6 matches on hard court this season and add on his 3 wins in his last 10 and it makes it even more appealing. The best part of this matchup is Ramos’s awful 13% Ace Against compared to Pouille’s 10.3% Ace For. This is looking to be a strong matchup to continue Pouille’s successful hard-court record this season.

Expected Outcome: Pouille 3-1

ATP Rankings (All Rankings are adjusted by stats, form, and history; Worst 0 - 20 Best)

Bublik-20

Zverev-20

Berrettini-19

Shapovalov-19

Karatsev-18.5

Fucsovics-14.5

Hurkacz-14.5

Opelka-14

Pouille-14

Paul-13.5

Sinner-13.5

Struff-13.5

Monfils-13.5

Nishikori-13

Kudla-10

Cecchinato-9

Sonego-8.5

Korda-8.5

Sock-8.5

Carreno-Busta-8

McDonald-8

Thompson-8

Harris-4.5

Escobedo-3.5

Moutet-3

WTA Rankings (All Rankings are adjusted by stats, form, and history; Worst 0 - 20 Best)

Barty-19.5

Schmiedlova-19

Pliskova-18.5

Tauson-18.5

Ferro-14

Bencic-13.5

Badosa-13.5

Anisimova-13.5

Raducanu-9

Parrizas-Diaz-9

Sakkari-8.5

Tomljanovic-8.5

Siniakova-8

Zhang-3.5

Galfi-3

Trevisan-3

Thanks for reading The First Serve! Good luck in all of your contests today! If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else don’t hesitate to email me [email protected] or via Twitter @df_solutions