US Open DFS Lineup Picks for DraftKings (8/28/23) - Day 1

Welcome to “The Slam”! This is the home for all Tennis as we welcome Wimbledon. Unlike regular Tour matches for ATP, Grand Slam matches are a BO5, however, the WTA matches will remain a BO3 and will be scored appropriately to equal that of the ATP.

The top two favorites from both ATP and WTA are: Tiafoe -6000 & Fritz -2500 and Swiatek -5000 & Muchova -1200. I will guide you through Day One of the US Open starting at 11:00 A.M. EST.

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 at [email protected], via Twitter @df_solutions, or in our Discord chat rooms.

High-Salary Players $9K+

Yuriko Miyazaki - DK $9.6K | WTA Rank: 199  

Opponent - Margarita Betova | WTA Rank: 1039

This is a rather straightforward play at the bottom end of the ‘elite’ range, making Miyazaki a great value play. Miyazaki is 14 and 6 in all competitions this season on hard court, compared to her counterpart who is winless through five matches. This is going to be the number one narrative when assessing this matchup as both players prefer hard court, excluding the court advantage. The other talking point of this matchup is Betova’s atrocious record, losing all ten of her most recent matches in all competitions, dating back to the French Open. If Miyazaki had more tour-level matches on her docket, she would have a much larger confidence ranking – currently sits at 13 –.      

Frances Tiafoe - DK $11.3K | ATP Rank: 10 

Opponent - Learner Tien | ATP Rank: 690

This is the largest ranking difference on the slate and with that comes the largest skill gap and odds gap. Tiafoe has slowed down in recent times, however, he has more than proved his talent this season and he is expected to win this in straight sets and concede less than 7 games to his counterpart in Round One. Tien is starting to make a case for himself as he paves his way through the Futures, but this meeting with Tiafoe supersedes any matchup he has had so far in his young career. Tiafoe will be making a case for the highest-scoring player on the slate.                                        

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Collins (DK $10K), Wolf (DK $9.1K)

Mid-Salary Players $7.5K to $8.9K

Rinky Hijikata - DK $7.8K | ATP Rank: 110  

Opponent - Pavel Kotov | ATP Rank: 98

Unlike the above matchups, Hijikata does have the court preference advantage with Kotov being a strict clay court player. In Kotov’s one hard court match in his last ten – Winston Salem –, he lost in straight sets to Mitchell Krueger. Hijikata has not been in the best of form himself, however, his record on hard court in all competitions this year is miles better and he has plenty of hard court time, heading into the US Open compared to Kotov whose one match is surely not enough to get adjusted. It is not a clear and obvious choice, but Hijikata is expected to win this meeting.    

Elisabetta Cocciaretto - DK $8.7K | WTA Rank: 29  

Opponent - Kaja Juvan | WTA Rank: 145

Welcome to the eye test. Both Juvan and Cocciaretto are clay court players coming into a hard court Grand Slam. Juvan has zero hard court experience in her last ten matches, outside of US Open Qualifiers and Cocciaretto had one hard court match – Cincinnati – where she lost in straights to Sloane Stephens. Cocciaretto is playing much better than her record shows though – where the eye test comes in – and she is coming off a title in Lausanne – clay court –. Her salary is a bit high, however, it could have been higher and she has the potential to blow Juvan out of the water and make a statement in Round One.                                                             

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Wang (DK $8.8K), Mannarino (DK $8.5K)

Low-Salary Players <$7.5K

Varvara Gracheva - DK $6.7K | WTA Rank: 40

Opponent - Taylor Townsend | WTA Rank: 132

This is a major head-scratcher. Outside of Gracheva not being in the greatest form after a big run, there is zero reason why she should be considered an underdog. Townsend’s form is barely any better and it is against lesser competition and half of her matches are also qualifiers and not even tour-level play. Gracheva is a clay court player, and despite that, her record this season on hard court is greater than the hard court preferred Townsend – 3 and 7 –. The one major concern about Gracheva right now and the big reason her form is so poor, is her metal game. If she is in her groove, she can outplay many big names on the WTA Tour, however, if she is not, she struggles greatly. This can be found in her match against comeback queen Caroline Wozniacki. Gracheva barely beat her after she attempted to hand her the match numerous times. Nevertheless, this is a big opportunity to exploit the pricing on Day One of the US Open.   

Jakub Mensik - DK $7.3K | ATP Rank: 206

Opponent - Gregoire Barrere | ATP Rank: 59

Mensik is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career, defeating Fabio Fognini in three sets in the US Open Qualifiers – lost to Fognini two weeks ago in the Zug Challenger – clay court –. Barrere has shown some glimpses of a comeback after he fell off the face of the Earth for a few years and since then he has halted a bit in form. This matchup will not be easy for Mensik by any means and his odds reflect that. If this is too risky of a play, don’t be afraid to at least bet him to take a set in this matchup!                                             

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Kalinina (DK $6.8K), JM Cerundolo (DK $5.4K)

Thanks for reading The Slam. Good luck in all of your contests today!

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