World Grand Prix Darts Day 2 Picks 2026 (Tuesday 29th September)

The upset suffered by Luke Littler may just have given the rest of the field the confidence to believe that the big Ranking tournaments may not be dominated by the World Number 1 as so many have come to expect.

Luke Littler will go into most tournaments as the strong favourite even after losing to Luke Woodhouse in the First Round at this event, but breaking the aura is important for the players who take on the World Number 1.

It has certainly been an upset that has opened up this event and everyone remaining in the draw is going to be heading to the stage with that much more confidence. The top player is out, but Michael van Gerwen is another who has fallen at the first hurdle and that may put more pressure on those heading out on Day 2 knowing the kind of opportunity that may have come up.

One of those is the World Number 2 Luke Humphries, who finished Runner Up here last year, but the key for the players is to remain focused on the task at hand and that is simply moving through to the Second Round.

James Wade to win & over 1.5 180s v Joe Cullen: Losing at the World Grand Prix against Joe Cullen twelve months ago could play on the James Wade mind, but the higher Ranked player has been in the much stronger form of the two players.

The format is one that can see matches run away from any player if they are not hitting the Doubles, but James Wade should have the superior confidence on the oche.

Joe Cullen has not played since losing another opening match on the European Tour earlier this month, but Rockstar is dangerous when at his best.

He does tend to be inspired when facing the stronger players on the Tour, but Cullen's form coupled with that shown by James Wade suggests revenge is more likely than repeat when these two meet in the First Round in 2026.

Gian van Veen to win & over 3.5 match 180s v Dirk van Duijvenbode: These two compatriots had a very good match at the World Series of Darts Finals last weekend and both are in the kind of form to believe this could be another high quality contest.

The edge here has to be Gian van Veen with his Doubling ability, even if there has been a suggestion from players that Doubling In is much different to Doubling Out.

Gian van Veen has lost in the opening Round in each of the last two seasons at the World Grand Prix, but it has taken huge performances from Ross Smith and Luke Littler to get the better of him.

Another is likely to be needed and Dirk van Duijvenbode has the power scoring to be a threat against anyone.

However, it is the superior Doubling that Gian van Veen produces which may end up being the difference when all is said and done and the higher Ranked Dutchman can move through to the Second Round for the first time.

MY PICKS: James Wade to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.15 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen to Win & Over 3.5 Match 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Grand Prix Update: 3-0, + 2.92 Units (3 Units Staked, + 97.33% Yield)

World Grand Prix Darts Day 1 Picks 2026 (Monday 28th September)

The PDC Tour is moving into the final three months of the season and that means there are a lot of big Ranking events to be played before the World Championship begins on Friday 11th December.

This is also going to be a time when those chasing spots in the Premier League will really want to impress the most, while the two year World Ranking approach used by the PDC means there can be big changes made to the positions, which could lead to more opportunities in 2027.

Most of the tournaments have the same kind of format with the length of the match the biggest difference from week to week- the floor events and opening Rounds of the European Tour events are all played in best of eleven Leg format, while there are a couple of tournaments that use Set play rather than Legs to determine winners.

With all that being said, the World Grand Prix is the standalone tournament on the calendar.

It is played in a Set format, but this is also the only tournament that has a 'Double In, Double Out' setting and that does make it very different to the other events played throughout the year.

This does give players more opportunities to try and earn the upsets, although it should also be said that Luke Humphries and Luke Littler have won the World Grand Prix in the last three seasons. The outlier in that time is Mike De Dekker, who has never really reached those heights again, but Rob Thornton and Daryl Gurney are other surprising winners of the tournaments since 2015, while Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price have all won the title pretty recently too.

Luke Littler will always be the strong favourite in any tournament he enters, while the tournament being played in the United Kingdom is another positive for him after dealing with the boo boys at the World Series of Darts Finals.

He has a pretty awkward opening draw, but not many would write off Luke Littler, even if the hopes of sweeping all of the Majors in 2026 ended with the defeat in Amsterdam last week.

You would probably be more comfortable backing Luke Humphries from the bottom half of the draw, but there is so much to like about how Ross Smith has been getting on.

A tough path has to be trodden if Smith is going all of the way, but this is a player in form having won the last Ranking event and who looks a definite contender at the World Championship with the right draw in front of him.

At the World Grand Prix, Ross Smith is expected to be tested right out of the gate, which could make it tough.

Instead there could be some value in backing James Wade for a run- he has not really enjoyed the format in recent years, but that would be ignoring the fact he has won the World Grand Prix twice before, and Wade could be tough to stop if he can earn a revenge victory over Joe Cullen who beat him in the First Round last year.

Danny Noppert to win & both over 0.5 180s v Niko Springer: The 'Double In, Double Out' format does have an impact on the maximum hitting markets, but you would still expect Danny Noppert and Niko Springer to hit one each considering their abilities around the treble 20.

All of the top players know what kind of threat Niko Springer brings to the oche and the German is someone who will step up his level against the better players he faces.

However, Springer has not really brought that form into events played over the last month and so you have to believe Danny Noppert has too much for him.

You would not really say that Noppert is in great form of his own or anything like that, but he did put a few wins together at Players Championship 29 played last week. The 6-4 loss to Luke Littler at the World Series of Darts Finals will have given the Dutchman some belief, while he had a couple of solid wins at a couple of European Tour events played earlier this month.

Danny Noppert had suffered a couple of hard luck losses at the World Grand Prix, but broke through to reach the Semi Final last year and can edge to a victory in the First Round in 2026.

Ross Smith to win & over 1.5 180s & Cameron Menzies over 0.5 180s: These two were set for a big match at the World Matchplay, but it lasted just three Legs before Cameron Menzies felt too ill to continue.

He will be hoping to challenge Ross Smith for much longer than that in the First Round at the World Grand Prix and Cameron Menzies picked up a win at Players Championship 29 to boost confidence ahead of this Ranking event.

Cameron Menzies has plenty of ability and will be dangerous, but Ross Smith should be very familiar with the format and winning the World Series of Darts Finals to add to the considerable success on the floor and on the European Tour Stage will have given Smudger a huge amount of belief.

Ross Smith has simply put in so many wins of late that the confidence will be surging and although his recent record at this event is disappointing, the favourite can add a couple of maximums to go with at least one from his opponent on the way through to the Second Round in 2026.

Wessel Nijman v Rob Cross: There is no doubt that Rob Cross has enjoyed the format at the World Grand Prix and even beat Luke Littler at the event two years ago.

Last year he overcame Wessel Nijman in a three Set battle in the First Round, but Rob Cross will know he needs to be a lot better if he is going to do the same again.

Twelve months on, Wessel Nijman is a much stronger player than he was and he has earned a bit of revenge over Rob Cross by beating him in the final of a European Tour event at the end of June.

Wessel Nijman remains the more consistent scorer, as he was in the loss to Rob Cross here last year, and he can just do enough to edge past the former World Champion and reverse the result from 2025.

MY PICKS: Danny Noppert to Win & Both Players Over 0.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ross Smith to Win & Smith Over 1.5 180s & Cameron Menzies Over 0.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Wessel Nijman @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 136-170, - 21.70 Units (305 Units Staked, - 7.11% Yield)

NFL Week 3 Picks 2026 (Thursday 24th September-Monday 28th September)

Playing two games out of a seventeen game schedule is not going be a time when you can declare one team a Super Bowl contender nor another being one that is on the brink of elimination, but those starting at 0-2 will be feeling some pressure.

A team like the Miami Dolphins have very low expectations and so the record is not as important as developing young players and then looking to add important names in the next NFL Draft.

However, for others like the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans, the 0-2 start is a big disappointment and there will be some pressure building on them as they have failed to meet the kind of expectations that so many had for them. The Chargers have very few excuses having lost to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders and something will need to change pretty quickly for a team that plays in the same Division as the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.

Injuries will also dictate how fans feel about their team- the Washington Commanders losing Jayden Daniels to another serious looking injury means the 0-2 position feels that much worse.

Much like last season, injuries have dominated the NFL headlines over the last week with a number of starting Quarter Backs expected to miss time, although the defending Champions Seattle Mariners could have Sam Darnold back behind Center in Week 3 having escaped what had the potential of being a serious injury in Week 1.

The key for teams is steering clear of the injuries that can severely disrupt a season, while there have also been plenty of upsets over the first couple of weeks of the season that suggest the 2026 season could potentially play out similar to 2025.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Miami Dolphins Pick: All eyes were on Patrick Mahomes as he returned to action in Week 1 following a serious injury at the end of the 2025 season,

184 passing yards with a couple of Touchdowns and an Interception would not have impressed, but the Quarter Back led the Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) to a win and has followed up by dissecting the Indianapolis Colts to keep his team unbeaten. Patrick Mahomes threw for 382 yards in the Week 2 win over the Colts and added 3 Touchdowns without throwing an Interception and Kansas City did what they had to do to remain unbeaten and looking like one of the real contenders to bounce back and earn a Playoff spot the season after missing out completely.

An early Bye Week is coming up for the Kansas City Chiefs who have opened the 2026 season with two home wins, but now have to play back to back games on the road.

Overlooking the Miami Dolphins (0-2) after coming through an Overtime victory may be the biggest obstacle for the Kansas City Chiefs to overcome- they do have to play the surprising Las Vegas Raiders on the road in Week 4 who are a Divisional rival and one that is also sitting at 2-0. That can be a problem for teams, even this early in the season, but it feels like something drastic will have had to change for both the Chiefs and Dolphins for this to be anything other than a road win.

The layers feel the same with the Chiefs being asked to lay a lot of points on the road, but it cannot be a surprise considering Miami have lost both games by double digits and have looked every bit as bad a team as many anticipated they would be.

The Dolphins have shifted some of the big contracts, but that has meant having to deal with dead money on the salary cap and also a change in philosophy with a young group being asked to try and lift the fanbase. In reality Miami will be targeting a very high selection in the next NFL Draft and the early performances suggest they could be the prime contender to pick up the Number 1 selection.

Malik Willis has been signed to play Quarter Back, but the Offensive Line have really had a hard time making any plays for Willis or for Running Back De'Von Achane and that has made it very tough for the Dolphins all around. Running the ball would have been the main ambition for the Dolphins as they look to make use of the best Offensive player left on the roster, but the Offensive Line have not had much success early and now face a Chiefs Defensive Line that have opened 2026 looking strong up front.

Playing from behind the chains has made things tough for Malik Willis, but it also should be said that he does not have the best supporting cast in the skill positions. This has perhaps been part of the reason Willis has been holding onto the ball longer than would be expected and that has led to the Sacks piling up and the Miami Dolphins showing very little consistency when it comes to moving the chains.

The heat of South Florida can be a leveller and that may help the Dolphins if the pass rush is slowed by increasing fatigue, but it is perhaps asking a lot of this Miami team to pile up enough points to earn the upset, despite the number of those already seen in the NFL.

It will be that much tougher to score enough points if the Kansas City Chiefs pick up from where they left off in Week 2 as a balanced Offensive unit takes to the field.

Kenneth Walker III earned the Super Bowl MVP before leaving Seattle to sign with the Chiefs and he has been part of a team that have been rushing for 5.6 yards per carry early in the season. Two games is a small sample, but the Chiefs are making use of having a Running Back that teams will respect and especially one playing behind a Quarter Back like Patrick Mahomes.

The Quarter Back is capable of moving the ball with his legs too and he will be pretty happy with the early season form shown by the Offensive Line when it comes to pass protection as well as run blocking. Patrick Mahomes is facing a Miami team that have struggled to get any pressure up front, which has exposed the inexperienced Secondary, and you have to believe Kansas City will be able to do what they like when they do have the ball.

The Chiefs beat Miami twice in the 2023 season, including in the Playoffs, while they also won on their last trip to Miami back in December 2020.

Laying this kind of number with a road favourite is never a great position to be in, but Miami could be a team that struggles to win more than once this season and the Kansas City Chiefs have the momentum that could see them pull clear in the second half.

Carolina Panthers @ Cleveland Browns Pick: Both of these teams enter this non-Conference game in Week 3 with the same 1-1 record having bounced back from Week 1 losses.

The Carolina Panthers (1-1) really impressed by going into Atlanta and crushing the NFC South rivals, while the Cleveland Browns (1-1) upset the odds as a big underdog when beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. These wins are impressive considering the way the Panthers and Browns were beaten in Week 1 and Cleveland will be looking to build on the success in the home opener.

That brings motivation, but the Browns have to make sure they are focused and not thinking to the Week 4 game against AFC North rivals Pittsburgh Steelers, which is set to be played on Thursday Night Football.

Deshaun Watson remains the starter for the Cleveland Browns, but the Quarter Back will be aware that there are plenty of critics ready to call for him to be removed as soon as he hits a rough patch. In the win over the Buccaneers, Watson had almost 240 passing yards to go with the 2 Touchdowns thrown, while avoiding an Interception is a huge positive for the Quarter Back and the Cleveland Browns.

He will be confident heading into the first home game of the 2026 season, but Deshaun Watson will be keen to see the Offensive Line pick up their play and start opening up significant running lanes to keep him in positive field position. An injury on the Line does not help, but Cleveland are facing a Panthers Defensive Line that had been gashed in Week 1 and that will offer them some encouragement.

It will help Deshaun Watson, who is going to be facing a Carolina Secondary that have performed pretty well through the opening two weeks.

They have been helped by the pass rush pressure that the Panthers have been able to generate and the Cleveland Offensive Line have struggled when it comes to giving Watson the time he may need at the Quarter Back position. This is going to be important for the Panthers as they bid to get the ball in the hands of Bryce Young and an Offensive unit that has impressed through the opening two games, even if the record says those games have been split.

Balance is the key for the Carolina Panthers and they have found that Offensively with the team able to run the ball as well as Bryce Young has been able to throw the ball.

The Carolina Offensive Line will believe they can impose themselves on this Browns Defensive Line and keeping the Quarter Back in third and manageable spots will give the Panthers the edge. It will mean slowing down any pass rush that the Cleveland Browns can generate and Bryce Young has shown that he has grown into the system with his own performance in the opening two games having helped the Panthers into the Playoffs last season.

Cleveland could be without a couple of key Secondary performers if they do not want to risk those with issues ahead of a Thursday Night Football, and that should give Bryce Young an opportunity to continue his strong start to the year.

Conditions should be comfortable for the Carolina Panthers and the added balance on the Offensive side of the ball should be the key to giving the road team the edge.

The Panthers have not always been the best on the road with Bryce Young under Center, but the win last week in Atlanta should have given them plenty of momentum and they may do enough Offensively to give Deshaun Watson and the Browns too much to do.

MY PICKS: Kansas City Chiefs - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Carolina Panthers - 2 Points @ 1.85 Coral (1 Unit)

Houston Texans - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Buffalo Bills - 7.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Seattle Seahawks - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

San Francisco 49ers - 8.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 2: 3-4, - 1.31 Units (7 Units Staked, - 18.71% Yield)

Week 1: 2-4-1, - 2.23 Units (7 Units Staked, - 31.86% Yield)

World Series of Darts Finals Day 4 Picks 2026 (Sunday 20th September)

The title will be handed out in Amsterdam on Sunday and that means the Quarter Finals are played in the Afternoon Session before the Semi Final and Final is played later in the day.

Eight players are still competing and all will believe they have what it takes to win this event and use the momentum to kick onto the big Ranking events coming up.

However, Luke Littler remains the player to beat after sneaking through the Second Round with a final Leg decider win over Nathan Aspinall.

Any selections from the Semi Final matches will be added to this thread.

Ross Smith-Josh Rock both over 4.5 180s: This looks a really good Quarter Final on the form shown over the last couple of days, although it is no surprise that Ross Smith has been placed as the favourite.

His form has been stronger for some time compared with Josh Rock, although the latter is a Premier League participant and looks to be peaking as we get into the final quarter of the season.

This should make for a very competitive contest and two big maximum hitters can both produce at least five each on the day.

All players will want to keep something in the tank for the remainder of the tournament to be completed later, but these two are capable of pushing one another and that could lead to a high quality match.

James Wade v Gerwyn Price: We all know how good Gerwyn Price is and the layers will never underestimate him, but it is James Wade who has gotten the better of the 2026 meetings.

A couple of those wins have been across a longer format and the Englishman looks a good underdog to back considering his recent form.

Gerwyn Price may feel he can outscore James Wade, but the latter sticks around and the superior finishing can see him swing this Quarter Final in his favour.

Nothing ever comes easy against either of these players, but Wade looks an underdog who can show his bite is just as effective as his bark.

Luke Littler to win & over 6.5 180s v Jonny Clayton: Scraping through the Second Round makes Luke Littler that much more dangerous as the World Series of Darts Finals wind down on Sunday.

Once again Littler has shown he can produce under intense pressure, while opponents have perhaps not had the belief they need in order to upset the World Number 1.

Jonny Clayton may have more than most having picked up wins over Luke Littler in the Premier League, but the more recent head to head has swung back in favour of the youngster.

It is incredibly difficult to beat Luke Littler over the longer formats and he can do enough to secure both parts of this double put together.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith & Josh Rock Over 4.5 180s Each @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

James Wade @ 2.20 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Luke Littler to Win & Over 6.5 180s @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Series Finals: 7-6, + 0.73 Units (13 Units Staked, + 5.62% Yield)

World Series of Darts Finals Day 3 Picks 2026 (Saturday 19th September)

The format moves into a best of nineteen Leg Second Round at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam and that means the eight matches to be played on Saturday are going to be split across two Sessions.

It is a busy day, but one that should produce plenty of high quality darts for fans to enjoy.

Josh Rock v Ryan Searle: This has been set as a pick 'em contest in the Second Round after the odds had opened up with Josh Rock as a narrow underdog.

That felt out of place after the opening performances of both players, while Ryan Searle has perhaps not kicked on from his run to the World Championship Semi Final as well as he would have hoped.

It has not been the ideal season for Josh Rock, but he looked in really sharp form in the win over Stephen Bunting and can outlast Heavy Metal.

Ross Smith - 2.5 legs v Daryl Gurney: Credit has to be given to Daryl Gurney for rallying and beating home favourite Michael van Gerwen in the First Round, but there is also little doubt that he was let off the hook when trailing 5-3 and having lost five consecutive Legs.

That is unlikely to be the case if he gives Ross Smith the same kind of momentum.

Daryl Gurney will have taken plenty of confidence from beating van Gerwen, but his recent form has been very disappointing and in sharp contrast to the kind of darts that Ross Smith has been throwing.

It will need a real off-day from Smudger for things to change in this Second Round match and the top player on the European Tour in 2026 can win another match on the continent to take his place in the Sunday Quarter Finals.

Dirk van Duijvenbode most 180s v Luke Humphries: The Afternoon Session will conclude with a big match between a home player and the World Number 2 and Dirk van Duijvenbode will not be intimidated by the challenge in front of him.

He has beaten Luke Humphries on the European Tour already this season and the crowd are going to push van Duijvenbode all the way in this Second Round match.

Of course it is no surprise that Humphries is the strong favourite, especially over the best of nineteen Leg format, which will allow him to fight back even if the Dutchman makes a very fast start.

Dirk van Duijvenbode could be lining up the upset if he can get his powerful scoring going and he has had more maximums than Luke Humphries in the last two meetings on the Tour. That is a big part of his game and van Duijvenbode may at least win in that column, even if he is not quite able to cross the line for the victory to take his place on Finals Day.

James Wade-Wessel Nijman over 9.5 180s: This is the penultimate Second Round match to be played in the Evening Session and looks a very good one on paper.

After a blistering start to the 2026 season, Wessel Nijman has come off the boil in recent weeks and that, coupled with the form James Wade has been putting together, means he will be entering this match as a narrow underdog.

However, Nijman is going to be given plenty of support and he looked to be in good form in his First Round win.

James Wade had to overcome a barrage of maximums in his win over Damon Heta, but continues to show how much he wants things on the oche by refusing to wilt under such pressure. His maximum hitting deserted him a little bit on Friday, but this longer format should give Wade and Wessel Nijman plenty of opportunities to pile up the big scores and they can surpass this total set.

Luke Littler to win & over 7.5 180s v Nathan Aspinall: While there have been times when Nathan Aspinall has been able to push Luke Littler, it is hard to say that he has ever looked confident in beating the World Number 1.

Something will have to change drastically for Nathan Aspinall to find that belief, but he is capable of avoiding a complete blowout and that should mean Luke Littler has time to bang in plenty more maximums.

He may be the younger player on the stage, but Luke Littler almost 'big brother's' Nathan Aspinall and the dominant head to head underlines the point.

Getting up to eight maximums in a best of nineteen Leg format is not going to be easy, but Nathan Aspinall can win at least five Legs here and that Littler's maximum hitting rate should mean he has the time to complete both parts of this selection to take his place in the Quarter Final.

MY PICKS: Josh Rock @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ross Smith - 2.5 Legs @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Dirk van Duijvenbode Most 180s @ 2.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

James Wade-Wessel Nijman Over 9.5 180s @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler to Win & Over 7.5 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Series Finals: 4-4, + 0.08 Units (8 Units Staked, + 1% Yield)

World Series of Darts Finals Day 2 Picks 2026 (Friday 18th September)

A couple of the Day 1 selections ended on the wrong side after beginning too slowly or blowing a healthy lead through missed Doubles, but it could have been a worse day and that keeps things ticking forward.

The First Round is going to be completed in Amsterdam on Friday and there are perhaps not as many good looking matches in this half as there are in the half that was completed on Thursday.

It is reflected by having a couple fewer Picks from the Session to be completed through the evening in the Netherlands, although there is still plenty of quality darts for the fans to enjoy.

Nathan Aspinall to win & most 180s v Raymond Smith: There have been some suggestion that Raymond Smith is playing with a concern about his arm, but you would never have guessed that from the performances produced in the New Zealand and Australian World Series tournaments played in August.

He reached the Semi Final in New Zealand having beaten the likes of Stephen Bunting and Adam Leek, while Raymond Smith gave Gian van Veen a scare in Australia.

This should narrow the focus for Nathan Aspinall who has not been as active as he would have liked in what has been a busy personal year for the former Premier League participant.

When he has arrived at tournaments, Aspinall has shown his qualities and can find a way to complete the Match Double in what could be a good First Round match.

James Wade to win & over 1.5 180s v Damon Heta: James Wade has won nine matches in a row since losing in the New Zealand World Series tournament in the Semi Final.

It is a run that saw him pick up the title in Australia and Wade followed up by winning a European Tour title as well.

He was very disappointed to have missed out on playing in the Premier League this season, but James Wade is putting another strong year in the books and might be much harder to ignore in 2027. Rounding out the season with a Ranking title may make it impossible for him to miss out on a tournament he clearly wants to play in, but this is a tough opening match for James Wade.

Damon Heta has not had the kind of 2026 that he may have hoped, but he remains a very tough player to beat and he reached the Semi Final in the European Tour event played last weekend. That run was ended by James Wade, but it was a very good match and this could be another.

It is James Wade who has won the last three between the players and he may just have enough to edge this one as well- Wade has been hitting the treble 20 mark with some regularity in recent weeks and can add two in any winning effort on Friday.

Luke Littler to win & over 3.5 180s v Danny Noppert: Two weeks ago, Luke Littler won a European Tour title and beat Danny Noppert without dropping a Leg in that success.

Last week Danny Noppert was beaten by eventual Winner James Wade without winning a Leg and the home crowd will be hoping to lift the World Number 10 to a more competitive effort.

It is a big ask against the top player in the world and Luke Littler continues to put so much pressure on opponents thanks to his scoring power.

He can find at least four maximums in another win over Danny Noppert and Luke Littler is capable of reaching that mark even in a blowout win.

MY PICKS: Nathan Aspinall to Win & Most 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

James Wade to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler to Win & Over 3.5 180s @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Series Finals: 2-3, - 0.85 Units (5 Units Staked, - 17% Yield)

NFL Week 2 Picks 2026 (Thursday 17th September-Monday 21st September)

No one will be placing too much stock into a Week 1 performance, but there is no doubt that teams will be feeling much better at 1-0 rather than 0-1.

Week 2 offers an opportunity to bounce back, but it is also a developing season and that means the key is to avoid falling too far behind those who are going to be pushing for the Playoff.

Thursday Night Football kicks off Week 2 with a big non-Conference game, but there are plenty of good looking games to be played across the weekend.

Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills Pick: Thursday Night Football is a feature of the NFL regular season and Week 2 of the 2026 season will see the Buffalo Bills (1-0) open their new home against the Detroit Lions (1-0).

Both teams earned wins in Week 1, although they came in very different fashion.

The Buffalo Bills won on the road against the Houston Texans who are another AFC team expected to push towards the Playoff and it is all the more impressive when you think of the issues Josh Allen has had when facing Houston in the past.

New Head Coach Joe Brady has to be really happy with what he saw from the Bills Offensively, but he will also be aware that there has to be some improvement Defensively if Buffalo are finally going to crack through and reach the Super Bowl.

The Detroit Lions were bigger favourites than the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, but they needed Overtime and then a stop on a two point play to earn the victory against the New Orleans Saints. This is a team that has played well under Head Coach Dan Campbell and one that steps up when they are set as the underdog, but a short week after an Overtime game to open the season places the Lions in a difficult spot.

However, they have to be happy with the way the Offensive Line played in opening up the running lanes and the Lions are going to look to keep the Bills quiet on the sidelines by handing the ball to Jahmyr Gibbs.

Last season the Bills Defensive Line struggled to stop the run, but they have made an encouraging start to the 2026 season. This is a big test for that Line to see where they stand, but failing to stop or slow the run would open up the Secondary to be attacked by Jared Goff and the Detroit passing game.

If the Bills can rush the Quarter Back as they did last week, that will help, but the Detroit Lions should feel they can have some success in Buffalo's new home.

Of course you have to expect plenty of success from Josh Allen and the Buffalo Offensive unit.

There was little wrong with the way the Lions Defensive Line played up front against the run in the win over New Orleans, but the Secondary were banged up last season and Detroit's Defensive Backs struggled in Week 1. Allowing the Saints to put up almost 400 passing yards is not ideal preparation for the Buffalo Bills, although the Lions will feel the pass rush can get into the backfield and at least force the Quarter Back to go through his reads that much quicker than he may want.

Even then, Josh Allen and company should be comfortable moving the ball and this could end up being another shootout as was the case when the teams met in December 2024.

That ended with both teams surpassing the 40 point mark in a game played in Detroit and both Offenses have to believe they can move the ball with confidence in this Week 2 clash in 2026.

The short week should make it that much more difficult for the Defensive units to make the adjustments needed after the issues in Week 1 and that should allow Jared Goff and Josh Allen to lead their team to plenty of successful drives and these two teams may end up surpassing the total points line set.

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears Pick: Week 1 of the NFL season concluded with three NFC North teams opening at 1-0 and the Minnesota Vikings (1-0) are the reason that the Green Bay Packers were the only team that failed to open with a win.

Since then, the Detroit Lions have dropped to 1-1 and that does mean either the Vikings or the Chicago Bears (1-0) can finish up Week 2 leading the Division as the only unbeaten team (assuming this game will not finish in a tie).

The Vikings were perhaps a little fortunate that the Green Bay Packers capitulated as they did in Week 1 and they will be aware that they will need to be a lot better to beat a Chicago Bears team that have been speaking excitedly about the Offensive unit before the season had begun. An early statement was made by Caleb Williams and the Bears when scoring 59 points in a road win over 2025 NFC South Champions Carolina Panthers, while also putting up over 550 Offensive yards.

No one associated with the Bears can expect to see that kind of output every week, but the Quarter Back has been speaking confidently about the standards Chicago want to set.

They did whatever they wanted against the Carolina Panthers, but this should be a more challenging game against a Minnesota team that had focused on improving the Defensive personnel. Last week the Vikings Defensive Line were able to win at the Line of Scrimmage and prevent the Green Bay Packers from getting consistency from the run game and they will be looking to at least slow a Chicago team that were picking up huge yards on the ground.

However, Caleb Williams will have taken note of the holes that Jordan Love attacked in the Vikings Secondary and the Quarter Back can pick up from there.

Caleb Williams is likely going to be put under some pressure if the team are not able to keep him in third and manageable positions on the field, but he has shown he can move out of the pocket and continue to make plays down the field. Avoiding turnovers is key, but the Bears should be confident they can move the ball with some consistency and that will put the pressure on Minnesota to try and keep up on the scoreboard.

Brian Flores will have his Defensive unit make some plays, but they will need those turnovers to make things easier for an Offense that is going to be led by Carson Wentz rather than Kyler Murray.

A concussion has forced Murray out, but the Minnesota Vikings have an inexperienced Quarter Back coming into the lineup and one who had over 1200 passing yards with 6 Touchdown passes last season.

239 total yards were produced by the Vikings last week as they took advantage of the mistakes made by the Green Bay Packers, but that is asking a lot for that to happen again.

Carson Wentz did have a good game at Quarter Back and the Vikings have talented Receivers who will have seen the Chicago Secondary struggle to make plays last week and that will offer the road team encouragement. The Vikings can also expect a bit more balance in the Offensive play as they are expected to establish the run against a Bears Defensive Line that struggled last season and who have opened up the 2026 season by allowing the Panthers to pick up big yards on the ground.

The Bears will be playing with some revenge on their mind having lost the home opener at Soldier Field to the Minnesota Vikings last year, but they will have a lot of respect for this Divisional rival.

Nothing ever comes easy in the NFL and Chicago cannot expect to be as strong as they were in Week 1, but they may still do enough to force a couple of mistakes from this Vikings Offense and stall some drives. That may be enough to give the Bears the edge and they may just edge past this spread set to move to 2-0 in the Division.

Cleveland Browns @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: If you know anything about Baker Mayfield, you can guarantee that he has been looking forward to this Week 2 game as soon as the schedule came out in May.

He was the incumbent Quarter Back with the Cleveland Browns (0-1) when the team decided to make a huge trade to bring in Deshaun Watson and that led to Baker Mayfield leaving the team and then ultimately end up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1). The Quarter Back has led Tampa Bay to the Playoffs in 2023 and 2024, but injuries made it very tough for Baker Mayfield in 2025, although the decision made by the Browns continues to be one that has them on the wrong side of the trade.

Both teams are looking to bounce back and Baker Mayfield vs Deshaun Watson will be leading the headlines, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a lot more competitive in the Week 1 defeat than the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns Defense may have lost Myles Garrett, but they still have a lot of quality on that side of the field, although winning games will mean needing more from the Quarter Back.

Time definitely feels like it is ticking on the Watson era at Cleveland and it would not be a huge surprise if there is a Quarter Back change during this game if he continues to struggle. Poor decisions were made in the loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars and you do have to wonder if Deshaun Watson will ever reach the levels he had shown with the Houston Texans before the controversy from his personal life ended up impacting his play on the field.

Deshaun Watson has to be better, as he will admit, but he will need support after the Offensive Line struggled in Jacksonville- that was not solely the case in pass protection, but the Browns did not open up the running lanes like the Quarter Back would have wanted and that puts all the pressure on Watson.

Failing to hold onto the ball is on Deshaun Watson, as is the Interception thrown, but there will be some opportunities for him to make plays against this Secondary. However, that will also need his supporting cast to step up and it could be a tough day again on the road for the Cleveland Browns.

They can at least point to the Defensive unit as being able to keep them in this game, but a balanced Tampa Bay approach could still keep Cleveland on their toes.

Last week the Buccaneers showed that balance against the Cincinnati Bengals, although they made too many mistakes on this side of the ball and that ultimately cost them. Cleaning those up should make things easier for the home team, although they will also want to see improvement from the Offensive Line when it comes to protecting Baker Mayfield.

Piling up the points against this Browns team will not be easy, but creating short fields would help and you just know Baker Mayfield is not going to want his team to ease off the throttle if they are in a position to score.

Cleveland cannot really be expected to be as poor as they were in Week 1, but even some improvement may not be enough to keep this game much more competitive when all is said and done. The whole of the Buccaneers team should be motivated as they bid to bounce back from an opening defeat and led by a Quarter Back with a point to prove and that should give Tampa Bay a chance to cover this wide spread.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Tennessee Titans Pick: The opening schedule for the Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) looks pretty testing, but this perhaps the game that looks 'easiest' on paper and it is really important for the team to find a way to motivate themselves.

After opening with a Divisional win, the Eagles will be facing the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams and then travel to London after Week 2 and that means playing in three high-profile spots. With that in mind, it can be easy for players to overlook a team like the Tennessee Titans (0-1) who finished with a 3-14 record in 2025 and who have already been beaten at home by the New York Jets.

A new Head Coach will be hoping he is going to be given some time to help turn things around for the Titans, but Robert Saleh will know he needs some positive signs to just ensure the team back him. In recent years, the Titans have not really been patient with the Head Coach employed, and back to back three win seasons will be hard to surpass considering the schedule and the Division in which they play.

Robert Saleh will need more from Cam Ward at Quarter Back if he is going to guide Tennessee to at least four wins to show some progress, but the sophomore player has to develop quickly. Last season saw some mixed performances from Ward in his rookie season, but there will be a real disappointment about the Week 1 performance from the Quarter Back who threw for just 140 yards against the Jets.

There had been some help offered by the Offensive Line when they set up to run block- the Titans will want to have more than the fourteen attempts from Week 1, but have to be encouraged by picking up almost 5 yards per game. Doing that against this Eagles Defensive Line will be challenging, especially if Cam Ward does not give Philadelphia something more to respect in the passing game.

Last week the Eagles Secondary began the season in good form and it may be difficult for Cam Ward to have a much stronger game than he managed in the loss to the Jets. One positive is that Ward may have more time in the pocket when he does step back to throw, but even that may not be enough reason to believe he can lead the Titans to a lot more successes than they had in the opening defeat.

Philadelphia will definitely be more confident in their ability to establish the run with consistency, although they have lost a key piece of the Line when Landon Dickerson was placed on IR. Those changes will perhaps take some time bedding in and that could allow the Titans to have success at the Line of Scrimmage having rebuilt that part of the Defense around Jeffery Simmons.

Despite that, the Jets were able to get things going on the ground and the Eagles will feel they still have enough about them to do the same.

Jalen Hurts can move the ball with his legs from the Quarter Back position and is still backed up by Saquon Barkley and that may keep the Eagles in front of the chains.

The Quarter Back will be aware that the passing game will be another work in progress after the Eagles traded away AJ Brown, although this whole part of the Offense can be opened up by establishing the run. DeVonta Smith is a very solid Receiver, but it is important for the Eagles to find a consistent performer opposite him if they are going to have a big season.

There should be opportunities for the Eagles to make plays in the passing game and that gives them the edge on the road.

Tennessee will be expecting a much stronger performance after the disappointing effort in Week 1, but they may not be able to get that burst from the Offensive side of the ball that will be needed to earn an upset.

Instead it is perhaps where the Titans will come up short again and that could allow the Philadelphia Eagles to win this one by around a Touchdown mark.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers Pick: If you were to say that one of these AFC West teams would be heading into the Week 2 Divisional clash at 1-0, most would have suggested the Los Angeles Chargers (0-1) would be that team. Instead it is the Las Vegas Raiders (1-0) who travel to the City of Angels unbeaten thanks to a comfortable success over the Miami Dolphins on the same day the Los Angeles Chargers were inexplicably losing at home against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Division is one of the most competitive in the NFL and so the defeat suffered by the Chargers will have really hurt.

The next four games ahead of the Bye Week will see the Los Angeles Chargers face Buffalo, Seattle, Denver and Kansas City and so there is a real pressure on the team to bounce back immediately from the disappointment of Week 1. Back to back eleven win seasons meant the Chargers came into the 2026 season with big expectations on the shoulders of the players to take the next step and have a deep impact in the Playoffs, and that does mean the team need a response.

Las Vegas will make the short journey to Los Angeles in confident mood, but this is a team that is transitioning and that means avoiding throwing Fernando Mendoza straight into action in his rookie season. He was the top Pick in the NFL Draft, but the Raiders will begin the season with Kirk Cousins at Quarter Back and new Head Coach Klint Kubiak has to be really happy with the start made by his team.

This is a big step up for the Raiders who have won seven games across the last two seasons, but who will be looking to surpass the three wins secured in 2025.

Running the ball is going to be tough against this Chargers Defensive Line and that will put a bit more pressure on Kirk Cousins, who had a much more comfortable match up last week.

It is expected that Brock Bowers will miss another game, which is a significant blow for the Raiders passing game, while it is not being disrespectful to say the team are missing a lot of standout Receivers outside of the Tight End. This did not matter against the Dolphins, but Kirk Cousins did not have to do a lot from the Quarter Back position and the veteran may find it tough to exploit the Chargers Secondary without consistent players to throw to.

Kirk Cousins made a couple of mistakes in the win over Miami, and those could be much more costly in a game like this one.

The Raiders have to be prepared to be facing a Chargers team that will have had criticism ringing in their ears following the Week 1 defeat to the Cardinals, but the home fans will expect a reaction.

Justin Herbert leads the Offensive unit that has a new Co-Ordinator in Mike McDaniel, but they did not seem to be in sync in Week 1, which was a real disappointment.

Everything begins at the Offensive Line after the Chargers struggled to establish the run with any consistency in the opening game and that has to change to just open up the playbook for the new Offensive Co-Ordinator to get the best out of the Quarter Back. Much more will be expected of Omarion Hampton and the Offensive Line and they can show a lot more life in this game.

Doing so should make things pretty comfortable for Justin Herbert and the Quarter Back will be looking to take more care of the ball.

One concern for the home team has to be the performance of the Offensive Line to give Justin Herbert time to allow routes to develop down the field and that has to be improved. This is especially the case against the Raiders, who were able to break into the backfield relentlessly in the win over the Dolphins, although it should always be pointed out how poor Miami looked.

There should be some urgency about the Los Angeles Chargers performance and they have won the last four games against this AFC West rival.

It would be a huge surprise if Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has not gotten into his players and cannot extract a reaction from them, while the Las Vegas Raiders are missing the best Receiver and may struggle to move the ball with a lot of consistency. That could come together to see the Chargers secure a solid win and get themselves ready for a four game run that may determine how this season will shape up for them.

MY PICKS: Buffalo Bills-Detroit Lions Over 54.5 Points @ 1.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Chicago Bears - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 7.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 6.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Chargers - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Dallas Cowboys - 3.5 Points @ 1.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

San Francisco 49ers - 13.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Week 1: 2-4-1, - 2.23 Units (7 Units Staked, - 31.86% Yield)

US Open Day 13 Tennis Picks 2026 (Friday 11th September)

It is a day of remembrance for people around the world and especially those in the United States and New York City.

The fans will be arriving at Flushing Meadows with many memories of a painful day twenty-five years ago, but New Yorkers felt sporting events resuming back then was a reminder that the City would not be beaten by terrorists.

Friday will be an emotional day from morning until evening and it is perhaps fitting that the all-American Semi Final is going to be played in the Evening Session.

The Men's Final will be set by that second Semi Final featuring Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe and it is going to be a real test for both players to keep themselves in check, which is going to be a key to earning a spot in a first Grand Slam Final for one of them.

Earlier in the day, Alexander Zverev will face Karen Khachanov in the other Semi Final and the top Seed is the favourite to reach his second US Open Final.

Dealing with the intensity of the day will not be easy, but the four players going out on court will also be very keen to give the watching public plenty of entertainment in these two Semi Finals.

Ben Shelton - 1.5 sets v Frances Tiafoe: It is going to be an emotional day in New York City as the entire world will remember the events of 9/11 twenty-five years after the terrorist attacks in the United States.

This City was impacted more than any other and New Yorkers will be remembering those who were lost.

The US Open has two Men's Semi Final matches scheduled to take place on Friday and it is fitting that two popular American players are facing one another in the bid to reach a maiden Grand Slam Final. Fans will come out to support Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe and the two players will be very glad that they have had an extra day of recovery between the Quarter Final and the Semi Final Rounds.

Both Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe came through Quarter Final matches in five sets- the former won a final set tie-breaker against defending Champion Carlos Alcaraz, while Frances Tiafoe came from two sets behind to beat Alex Michelsen.

Frances Tiafoe reached the Cincinnati Masters Final prior to the US Open, and he has always enjoyed playing at this tournament where his most consistent Grand Slam results have been achieved. The belief is clearly in a healthy place as Tiafoe has come through a couple of matches in five sets, while that belief is only enhanced with the amount of big points the World Number 12 has continued to win.

He may also feel he is playing with 'house money' after being a game away from a straights set loss in the Quarter Final before Alex Michelsen blinked and failed to stem the tide of momentum moving against him.

Recovering from that kind of position against Ben Shelton would be a lot more difficult for Frances Tiafoe, although Shelton has to show he can back up what feels like the biggest Grand Slam win of his career. Being able to bounce back from dropping the fourth set in the manner he did and still beating Carlos Alcaraz is as impressive a result as Ben Shelton could have produced and he is serving at a really high level.

Ben Shelton will be the first to admit that his game is based around being dominant on that shot, but he looks to have improved on the return of serve and that will be the key to winning multiple Grand Slams.

He has forced plenty of breaks of serve throughout this run at the US Open and Ben Shelton is the Montreal Champion and experienced enough to have competed in a couple of Grand Slam Semi Finals before. That experience can be a real help for someone looking to back up a big win, although Frances Tiafoe can call upon plenty of that having played in two previous Semi Final matches in New York City.

This is the third time Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe are facing each other at the US Open- the first in 2023 was won by Shelton in a big upset, but Frances Tiafoe was the lower Ranked player when beating Ben Shelton in five sets in 2024.

The most recent match saw Ben Shelton beat Frances Tiafoe in straight sets in Washington in 2025, and it does feel like the World Number 9 has improved on this surface this season.

Both will know the key here is to serve well, but Ben Shelton looks to have the edge in that department and he looks the more likely winner. Dismissing Frances Tiafoe's chances would be a mistake and he has had time to recover from the Quarter Final exploits, but Ben Shelton feels like the stronger player right now and he can earn revenge for the Third Round defeat to his compatriot here two years ago.

Alexander Zverev - 5.5 games v Karen Khachanov: Despite winning the French Open earlier this year and also having played in a number of other Grand Slam Finals, you can sense there is some tension in the Alexander Zverev game right now. A big opportunity has opened up to quickly pick up another Grand Slam title with the big names all falling around him, but that can also build up pressure knowing such a chance has come up.

He goes into this Semi Final after a relatively comfortable Quarter Final win and Alexander Zverev has not had to exert too much physicality in the last three Rounds after opening up with consecutive five set wins. That should mean there is more than enough left in the tank to win the US Open, but physical issues have long been less of a concern than the mental challenges he faces.

Next up for Alexander Zverev is a match against an opponent who has reached the Quarter Final at all four Grand Slams, but who has never really found the consistency to become a feature of the top ten of the World Rankings.

These days Karen Khachanov is playing as the World Number 50, although the run in New York City is going to push him back into the Seeding spots for future Grand Slam events.

In 2022, Karen Khachanov reached the Semi Final here in New York City, but that is an outlier as to how his tournament has tended to progress at the US Open. In nine other main draw appearances, Karen Khachanov had not been beyond the Third Round, although he is in the final four again in 2026 and can use the experience of four years ago in his bid to go one better.

He lost in four sets to Casper Ruud in 2022 and this is a much tougher test for Karen Khachanov, especially as he had shown no real form ahead of this final Grand Slam of the season. All three hard court matches in the lead up to the US Open had ended in defeat, but Karen Khachanov has upset two top 20 Ranked opponents in his run to the last four.

Learner Tien will really be kicking himself for letting Khachanov off the hook in the Fourth Round, but the latter is unlikely to be given such a helping hand in this match. It also should be noted that the performance level had been declining before facing an injured Alexander Blockx in the Quarter Final and Karen Khachanov is going to have to find a step up in level to earn the upset.

He should take confidence from the fact he beat Alexander Zverev at the Canadian Masters last year, although Karen Khachanov has lost four of the five hard court matches against this opponent around that victory.

Alexander Zverev had not exactly piled up the wins in preparation for the US Open, but he will be happy enough with this match up and his level has been a lot more consistent than Karen Khachanov's in this tournament.

Out of the two players, Alexander Zverev may be the one who can rely on his serve a little more than Karen Khachanov, while the World Number 2 has been the superior return player. These are factors that should end up giving Alexander Zverev the decisive edge needed in this Semi Final and the French Open Champion can reach a second US Open Final with a relatively convincing victory when all is said and done.

MY PICKS: Ben Shelton - 1.5 Sets @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Alexander Zverev - 5.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)

US Open Update: 31-21, + 7.72 Units (104 Units Staked, + 7.42% Yield)

US Open Day 3 Tennis Picks 2026 (Tuesday 1st September)

It has been a pretty intense last couple of days and that has made it difficult to sit down and write out a longer thread as the US Open has gotten underway.

That should improve as the week goes forward, but the Tennis Picks can be read below as we look to build on the opening success.

Alexander Zverev - 6.5 games v Lorenzo Sonego: The big news in the Men's draw is the early elimination of Novak Djokovic and that has only opened the draw up even further after Jannik Sinner withdraw before the tournament began. There are still lingering doubts about the overall fitness of Carlos Alcaraz and that will mean French Open Champion, Alexander Zverev, is going to be considered a big threat having been a Runner Up in New York City before.

His performances this summer will have lessened some of the enthusiasm around Alexander Zverev's prospects, but he is a very solid Grand Slam competitor and the experience cannot be underestimated the longer he remains in the tournament.

The First Round match against Lorenzo Sonego is going to be a test, but the match up is one that Alexander Zverev will be comfortable dealing with.

A couple of matches were won at Winston Salem, but Lorenzo Sonego has not enjoyed much success in the lead up to the the US Open and is playing as the World Number 89.

At 31 years old, Lorenzo Sonego will know that his best years may be behind him, but his serve can be very dangerous on the faster surfaces. However, that also means there is pressure to serve well at all times and especially in any match where he is bidding for an upset, and that has perhaps held the Italian back.

Lorenzo Sonego has held 80% of his service games in the three hard court matches against Alexander Zverev, but the latter has held 97% and that is a massive difference.

There has been a huge difference in the percentage of service points won to create that gap in the games held and the performances in the build up to the US Open suggests there will be no change to Alexander Zverev being the dominant player in this First Round contest.

Mirra Andreeva - 5.5 games v Janice Tjen: Winning the French Open title means Mirra Andreeva has already achieved one of her career ambitions, but there is so much more to come from the talented teenager.

The next step in the development is improving the hard court consistency and becoming a threat to win a Grand Slam on this surface- Mirra Andreeva has reached the Fourth Round in three consecutive years at the Australian Open, but playing in New York City is a learning experience for players and Andreeva has struggled here and yet to reach the second week.

There has been little to take from the performances in Toronto and Cincinnati, but Mirra Andreeva should be able to get through the early Round before one of the better players on the Tour will end up having too much for her.

It is unlikely that Janice Tjen is going to be that opponent having already been beaten by Mirra Andreeva once in the build up to the 2026 US Open.

Janice Tjen is the World Number 36 and only just missed out on a Seeding of her own, which has to be respected, but this is a player with an 8-13 record on the hard courts in 2026 and who is 0-5 when facing top 20 Ranked opponents.

Her numbers in those five matches against top 20 Ranked opponents have been really poor and Janice Tjen will struggle to bridge that gap.

Mirra Andreeva continues to beat those players she will expect to beat on the hard courts and her numbers have been very strong in those matches played.

When these two met in Cincinnati, Mirra Andreeva was the much stronger player and she may have enough to cover the handicap in this US Open First Round match.

MY PICKS: Alexander Zverev - 6.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Mirra Andreeva - 5.5 Games @ 1.72 William Hill (2 Units)

Taylor Fritz - 7.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Maria Sakkari - 1.5 Games @ 1.72 William Hill (2 Units)

US Open Update: 2-0, + 2.72 Units (4 Units Staked, + 68% Yield)

US Open Day 1 Tennis Picks 2026 (Sunday 30th August)

There will be a fuller thread for the Tuesday First Round matches, but the US Open has to begin with a couple of shorter threads as the tournament gets underway on Sunday.

Jessica Pegula - 5.5 games v Elena Gabriela Ruse: After reaching the Cincinnati Final, Jessica Pegula may simply be glad that a potential injury earlier in the tournament has not been one that could have dented her hopes of winning the US Open before this final Grand Slam of the season got underway.

She has been very close in the last couple of years.

Jessica Pegula reached the Final in New York City two years ago and the Semi Final last year, but the top of the leading contenders all have vulnerabilities in 2026. Her main rival has been Aryna Sabalenka, but Jessica Pegula will know the current World Number 1 is struggling for form and that leaves a door open.

It is clear where Jessica Pegula stands in American tennis that she has been given one of the prime spots on Sunday, but that also means pressure to deliver. Jessica Pegula has not been beaten in the First Round here since 2019, and it would be a real surprise if Elena Gabriela Ruse is able to reset that mark this year.

The last time we saw Elena Gabriela Ruse, she was well on her way to being beaten by Alexandra Eala in Cincinnati, but withdrew with an injury in the middle of the second set.

She was not likely to turn that match around, but it was also an injury that was not expected to keep her out of this Grand Slam.

Elena Gabriela Ruse has produced some steady hard court numbers this season, but there are levels to the sport and it has been a big struggle when facing top 50 Ranked opponents. In those matches, Ruse has a 2-7 record and she has really had issues in protecting the second serve, while simply not offering enough threat on the return to put any consistent pressure on the better players faced.

Changing those narratives in the First Round looks beyond the World Number 63 and Jessica Pegula can get her latest campaign to win a Grand Slam underway with a solid opening victory before earning a couple of days to rest and recover.

Alex Michelsen - 5.5 games v Federico Cina: The US Open has to be the big target for every single American player who is working their way onto the Tour and Alex Michelsen will be hoping he can have an impact here this season.

The last couple of years have both ended prematurely for the World Number 45, but Alex Michelsen has won a Challenger event on the hard courts in the build up to the final Grand Slam of the season and played at a decent level when the Tour moved into the bigger hard court events over the last month.

All of that can help Alex Michelsen and he has been given a decent opening draw considering he is not in a Seeded position.

Of course that does not mean Michelsen can approach this match with a poor attitude and instead it is on the higher Ranked player to exert his authority on an opponent that has limited hard court experience.

The serve is a big weapon for Alex Michelsen and that is going to be the key to this match- he has been pretty steady serving with around an 86% hold mark no matter the Ranking of the opponent, but the key for the home player here is getting the return game operating at a standard to make this a relatively comfortable match.

Any player that battles through the Qualifying Rounds has to be respected, but the 19 year old Federico Cina has perhaps surprisingly made it through. The World Number 181 won a Challenger on the hard courts earlier this season, but he had played three hard court matches in preparation for the US Open over the last six weeks and Federico Cina won one.

That includes losing early in the Challenger event that Alex Michelsen went on to win, but it also underlines the improvement of level needed to earn the upset.

Federico Cina’s raw numbers look reasonable in the relatively small hard court sample provided in 2026, but he has not played a single player inside the top 100 of the World Rankings. During his career, Cina has played three hard court matches against those players and produced a 1-2 record with all of those matches taking place in 2025 and it would be a surprise if this Qualifier can extend his stay in New York City beyond this weekend.

He has nothing to lose and all of the pressure is on Alex Michelsen, but the latter should also have the edge in experience and can reach a hard court level that proves to be beyond the reach of Federico Cina in the First Round at this final Grand Slam of the season.

MY PICKS: Jessica Pegula - 5.5 Games @ 1.70 William Hill (2 Units)

Alex Michelsen - 5.5 Games @ 1.66 William Hill (2 Units)