Here’s a preview for two of today’s matches from round 3 in New York, Zizou Bergs vs. Botic van de Zandschulp and Jakub Mensik vs. Learner Tien, with our betting predictions and best bets.
Zizou Bergs vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Bergs, the 31st seed, has needed to dig in for both his matches so far, dropping a set to both Carlos Taberner and Jesper de Jong before closing out the latter 7-5, 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(2). If he wins today it will be his best Grand Slam result in his career.
Van de Zandschulp has been on one of his famous in-form runs again, delivering the biggest upset of round two by taking down 6th seed Alex de Minaur in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2. He’s no stranger to deep US Open runs, having reached the quarterfinals here as a qualifier back in 2021.
This is a first meeting between the two.
Predictions and best bets
Van de Zandschulp is clearly the in-form player right now, playing with the freedom of someone with nothing to lose, while Bergs has looked a little shakier finding his range through two rounds. Van de Zandschulp is not the most consistent player but if he can keep up his recent level I think he should progress here.
My bet: Van de Zandschulp to win in four sets, at odds 3.75 or +275.
Jakub Mensik vs Learner Tien
Both of these young players are enjoying career-best seasons and arrive in quite similar form, each 7-2 in their last nine matches. Mensik, the 17th seed, reached his first major semifinal earlier this year and is 23-10 on hard courts in 2026, while Tien, seeded 14th, backed up his Montreal semifinal run with a clean 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win over Gael Monfils in round two.
Tien holds a 1-0 head-to-head edge from their only previous meeting (Next Gen Finals 2024). A win today would also make him the youngest American man to reach the fourth round at the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2002.
Predictions and best bets
This looks to be a very even battle between two young and very talented players in fine form. Tien gets a slight edge for me, both from the head-to-head and the physical side, plus he played a night match already and the crowd will be firmly behind him.
My bet: Tien to win in five sets.
