US Open Men's & Women's Singles 2nd Round Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Thursday September 3 2026

The second round of the 2026 U.S. Open continues Thursday in New York with another full men's and women's singles schedule. Amanda Anisimova faces one of the fastest-rising teenagers on the WTA Tour in Lilli Tagger, while Francisco Cerundolo meets Jan-Lennard Struff in a men's matchup that should provide a sharp contrast between baseline consistency and first-strike power.

Tagger has already won a WTA title this summer and arrives after a strong opening round. Cerundolo and Struff were both efficient in their first matches, setting up a second-round test between two players with very different routes to controlling points.

U.S. Open Second Round Best Bet

• Lilli Tagger ML: +380

Lilli Tagger vs Amanda Anisimova Preview

Tagger's rise over the past year has been one of the more interesting developments on the women's tour. The 18-year-old was outside the Top 500 last summer, but she has since climbed into the Top 50 and won her first WTA title in Prague in July. That championship run included victories over seeded opponents before she defeated Daria Snigur 7-6, 6-2 in the final.

Her first U.S. Open main-draw victory continued that progress. Tagger beat Tamara Korpatsch 6-0, 7-6, dominating the opening set before having to settle herself after Korpatsch made the second much more competitive. The Austrian had built a 4-0 lead in that set before eventually needing a tiebreak to close the match.

Anisimova was even more convincing in her opener, defeating Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 6-3 in 72 minutes. The American, who reached last year's U.S. Open final, controlled most of the match and avoided the type of long opening-round battle that can create an early workload problem.

The score does not mean Tagger is without openings Thursday. Krueger was still able to create repeated pressure on Anisimova's serve, producing 11 break chances despite converting only one. Tagger will need to do a better job capitalizing when those opportunities appear.

Surface and Matchup

Anisimova wants to play aggressively from the baseline, take the ball early and use her backhand to control exchanges before opponents can establish their preferred patterns.

Tagger presents a different challenge from Krueger. She has shown more willingness to change height and shape, and her one-handed backhand gives rallies a different rhythm than Anisimova sees against most opponents. The teenager also has enough serve to earn short points when she lands her first delivery.

Tagger's biggest challenge will be protecting the second serve. Anisimova can step inside the baseline and punish anything left short, particularly on a hard court that rewards early ball striking.

The Austrian therefore cannot simply defend and hope Anisimova misses. She needs to mix in aggression of her own and prevent the American from repeatedly setting her feet in the middle of the court.

This will be the first career meeting between Tagger and Anisimova.

Odds and Line Movement

Tagger was listed around +380 on the Thursday board and remains in approximately the same range, with current prices reaching roughly +400 in some comparisons. Anisimova is a heavy favorite after her efficient first-round victory.

What Will Decide the Match

Tagger has to make this physical without becoming passive. Anisimova is difficult to beat when she receives the same pace and rally shape repeatedly, but the American can be pushed into lower-percentage offense when opponents defend well and then change direction.

Tagger has already shown this summer that she can beat established tour players. If she serves well enough to stay out of constant defensive positions, her variety and willingness to compete through longer exchanges give her a chance to turn this into a three-set match.

Prediction: Tagger wins 2-1

Jan-Lennard Struff vs Francisco Cerundolo Preview

Cerundolo opened his tournament with a controlled 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Filip Misolic. The Argentine avoided an extended first-round match and repeatedly worked his way into return games without allowing Misolic to turn the contest into a serving battle.

Struff was similarly efficient against Camilo Ugo Carabelli, advancing in straight sets. That is important for the 36-year-old German because his chances improve considerably when his legs remain fresh enough to support his aggressive first-strike style over five sets.

The matchup will revolve around Struff's serve.

When the German is landing first serves and getting short returns, he can take the racquet out of an opponent's hands. He does not want Cerundolo establishing neutral baseline rallies, where the Argentine has the cleaner movement and greater consistency from both wings.

Cerundolo should look to make Struff play an extra ball whenever possible. The longer a rally lasts, the less comfortable the matchup becomes for the German.

Their only previous meeting was extremely one-sided, with Cerundolo winning 6-0, 6-2 in Munich last season. That came on clay, so the score should not be treated as a direct forecast for a U.S. Open hard court. It does, however, demonstrate how difficult the matchup becomes for Struff when Cerundolo neutralizes his first attack.

Odds and Line Movement

Cerundolo was around 1.59 on the earlier Thursday board. Current comparison prices have moved around the mid -100s, with available numbers ranging from approximately -152 to -180. Struff remains the underdog at roughly +140 to +150.

What Will Decide the Match

Struff needs a high first-serve percentage and a steady supply of free points. If Cerundolo consistently gets the return back deep and forces rallies beyond the first three or four shots, he should gradually take control.

Prediction: Cerundolo wins 3-1

Best Bet - Lilli Tagger ML +380

Anisimova is the more accomplished player and deserves to be favored, but Tagger has improved rapidly enough to make this matchup more competitive than the price suggests.

The Austrian has already won a tour title this summer, opened the U.S. Open in straight sets and has enough variety to keep Anisimova from settling into the same attacking pattern throughout the match. Anisimova remains dangerous whenever she gets a short second serve, so Tagger will need one of her better serving performances of the season.

At this number, the teenager's recent development and ability to change the rhythm of rallies make the upset worth backing.

Best Bet: Lilli Tagger ML +380

Prediction: Tagger wins 2-1