The 2024 U.S. Open continues on Tuesday with nonstop action starting at 11 a.m. and continuing late into the night in New York.
While Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev will all be in the spotlight on Day 2, we'll be keeping our eye on two big underdogs who could make an impact on the outer courts.
Fabio Fognini (+320) vs. Tomasz Maczak (-425) (approximately 1 p.m. ET)
There is no one like Fognini on the ATP Tour.
A mercurial talent more showman than athlete, he has entertained the tennis-loving public for nearly two decades with his shot-making, crowd interaction and on-court antics.
Unfortunately, Fognini's experience is coming to an end, as the Italian is 37 and well past the days of his youth.
However, Fognini has shown signs of a bit of a resurgence in recent months, including a stunning win over world number eight Kasper Ruud at Wimbledon in July. A five-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut cost Fognini a place in the quarterfinals, but it showed he has the ability to struggle against better opponents.
That alone makes Fognini an intriguing underdog against Tomas Maczak.
A fine doubles player, Maczak has also had some success as a singles player, but has not had any notable successes so far at Flushing Meadows.
And what makes this match especially difficult for Maczak is the intimate outdoor courts at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Center with a rapt crowd rooting for Fognini — a perfect setting for Fognini, who will no doubt soak up the atmosphere in what may be his final U.S. Open appearance.
The odds are high that this fight will be lost by Macak, but the young Czech will face a crafty opponent on Tuesday afternoon.
Betting: Fognini (+320, DraftKings)
Corentin Moutet (+350) vs. Sebastian Korda (-465) (around 3 p.m. ET)
There aren't many players like Moutet on the ATP Tour.
The passionate Frenchman, listed at 5ft 11in tall, lacks the power and athleticism of many of his contemporaries, but makes up for it with finesse, creativity and a willingness to dominate opponents. Moutet's greatest assets are his mind and his heart.
That makes the 25-year-old a formidable opponent for Korda, who is ranked 16th in the world.
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The 24-year-old Korda is enjoying a fine season on North American hard courts, including a win in Washington and a run to the semifinals at the Canada Masters.
But such an outcome shouldn't come as a huge surprise to Korda.
The American is an athletic player who has seemed destined for superstardom for years, but inconsistency and injuries have slowed her progress. What's more, Korda often finds herself in dangerous situations on court, sometimes becoming too caught up in her own thoughts and losing control of her matches.
That's not a recipe for success against a player like Muthe, who excels at confusing opponents with his creative shots and unique approaches.
Korda could well overpower Moutet with his power and athleticism, but if the Frenchman can hang in there and drag Korda to the deeper parts of the pool, this could be a real challenge for the favorite.
Betting: Moutet (+350, FanDuel)
