Grand Slam tennis is back at Flushing Meadows and the value bet on day two of the 2019 US Open is Joao Sousa beats Thompson.
The Portuguese player is 11 places higher than Australia’s Jordan Thompson in the ATP World Rankings.
It’s one win apiece from previous meetings, so there’s an open feel to their encounter. Both of those were on this surface – the hard courts of Melbourne during the Australian Open.
Sousa holds a straight sets victory over Thompson, while the Aussie needed a decider to win Down Under in 2017.
As Thompson has dropped 12 places in the men’s world rankings since July, it’s strange bookmakers have him favourite.
Another reason to oppose him is Thompson’s record at Flushing Meadows. In three previous attempts, he has only been able to advance past the first round once.
Sousa, meanwhile, made the last 16 last year knocking out two seeded players before running into Novak Djokovic.
Punt on Sousa beats Thompson value at Flushing Meadows
That makes the standout 5/4 on offer with Bethard that says Sousa beats Thompson great value.
As Sousa maintains his ranking in and around the low 40s, he should not be taken lightly. He’s again having a fine season upsetting former US Open champ Marin Cilic in straight sets at Wimbledon earlier this summer.
Again, his Grand Slam run ended there courtesy of an all-time great in Rafael Nadal. This match with Thompson is obviously much easier.
Thompson bowed out in the first round of four of the last seven Grand Slams and this battle is tougher than betting suggests.
There have already been a number of shocks across both singles draws at the US Open. A scenario where Sousa beats Thompson isn’t one of them when you consider the above.
He simply shouldn’t be the underdog on rankings or taking into account recent Grand Slam performances.
Bet of the Day: 5/4 with Bethard, Sousa beats Thompson in the US Open men’s singles first round.
