US Open Day 3: Sam Groth heads our trio of fancied underdogs

The final Slam of the tennis calendar provides the world’s best with plenty of opportunity to climb the world rankings as we head into the autumn.

But at the US Open, like any other tournament, there is also ample chance for an upset or two.

As the action at Flushing Meadows heads into the second round, we have picked out a trio of contests that could well see fancied players fall by the wayside.

Whether it’s in three singles, or a hopeful 14/1 treble, our picks could offer some great value.

Sam Groth to beat Tommy Robredo @ 2/1

The first of our trio of scalp chasers has form for sending higher ranked opponents home. If fact exactly half of his meetings with players in loftier positions have seen the Australian rule victorious.

Unfortunately for opponent Tommy Robredo, he falls into the type of player that is primed for Groth to strike.

The Spaniard has fallen to an upset in 12 of his 17 tournaments this season, while he has only made it past the second round of matches on five occasions in 2015.

Our selection was on course for victory against number 39 in the world Aleksandr Dolgopolov when his Ukrainian opponent retired hurt in round one and can follow that up with another victory.

Teymuraz Gabashvilli to beat Andreas Seppi @ 11/8

Italian 31-year-old Seppi comes into this tie in very questionable form. He had only won one of his six previous matches prior to defeating Tommy Paul  on Monday.

He tasted defeat on his only meeting with Gabashvilli on a hard court when the pair met in New Haven in 2007.

The Russian has already bagged himself an upset in the first round, seeing off Pablo Andujar-Alba at Flushing Meadows, and only last month defeat British number one Andy Murray.

However, while we are tipping the underdog for victory, it is unlikely to be a close match either way if his opponent’s record is to be believed.

Seppi hasn’t gone the distance in any of his last seven matches, so is either likely to justify his odds without much fuss or could come unstuck in the worse possible fashion, with a 3-0 reverse priced up at 13/2.

Polona Hercog to beat Eugenie Bouchard @ 6/5

Eugenie Bouchard adorned herself as the new darling of women’s tennis in 2014, reaching two Grand Slam semi-finals as well as the Wimbledon final against the odds.

However, 2015 hasn’t had quite the same result for the young Canadian. The last eight of the Australian Open is the only time she has reached the quarter finals in any tournament this calendar year, and has only negotiated the first round three times in her last nine competitions.

Opponent Polona Hercog needed just two sets to see off Bouchard when they met in the Fed Cup four years ago, and while much has changed in that period, the Slovenia looks a decent price for success.

The world number 64 has been a model of consistency in her last few tournaments, winning nine of her last 12 matches, and could be set to add ‘Bouch’ to that figure.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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