Andy Murray v Fernando Verdasco Preview
Andy Murray has made it through to the second round of the US Open after battling his way back from losing the opening set of his first round match against Australia’s James Duckworth. It was a match that took over three hours and that’s something that Murray, who has had so few games this year, really would not have wanted. He goes as the 4/7 favourite with bet365 to win this second round match* (betting odds taken on August 28th, 2018 at 11:11 pm).
Andy Murray v Fernando Verdasco Odds*
Andy Murray 4/7
Fernando Verdasco 11/8
* (betting odds taken on August 28th, 2018 at 11:11 pm)
So Andy Murray got through his first challenge at the US Open. This is is his only Grand Slam action this year and it is over a year since he played four sets in a match. So that will have taken its toll on him a bit. No-one is expecting, not even himself, to go and win the US open 2018 outright at all, this is just him pushing himself as much as he can as he continues his reintegration at the top level after hip surgery.
Murray and Spain’s Verdasco have met plenty of times before as Murray holds a 13-1 match head to head record against him. This will be their first meeting since Dubai last year which Murray won in straight sets on hard court. The only ever loss that Murray suffered against Verdasco was back in the 2009 Australian Open over five sets. Murray won’t want another enduring challenge but we are looking over 3/5 sets for 4/7 odds* (betting odds taken on August 28th, 2018 at 11:11 pm).
Verdasco beat his compatriot Feliciano Lopez in the first round of the US Open,getting the job done fairly untroubled in straight sets. Verdasco is ranked 32nd in the world and this year and took a 22-22 match record for the season into Flushing Meadows with him. He has never been beyond the quarter finals of the US Open (five times).
Prediction
We can see Murray finding a way to win this duel but we are going to totally back him to drop at least another set here. He is a long way from his absolute sharpest which means that his natural defensive game isn’t quite there. Murray 3-1 in set betting at bet365 is at 10/3 odds* (betting odds taken on August 28th, 2018 at 11:11pm) and is our top prediction.
