The week before a Grand Slam is always an odd one: to play, or not to play? Many top players opt to rest up and get some practice under their belts, but others like to have one last hit out in pursuit of momentum. With the US Open now less than seven days away, the Winston-Salem Open presents exactly that opportunity for a handful of hopefuls on the ATP Tour. Read on for a look at who’s playing, and our predictions for the event.
Winston-Salem Open Odds and Favorites
It’s a reasonably weak field in Winston-Salem this year, with just one member of the world’s top 30 present. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t be competitive, as 12 players ranked from No 30 to No 50 will be in action.
Who’s Playing in Winston-Salem?
- Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Tallon Griekspoor
- Luciano Darderi
- Gabriel Diallo
- Lorenzo Sonego
- Matteo Arnaldi
- Nuno Borges
- Alexandre Muller
Above are the top eight seeds at this year’s tournament, but there are plenty of other contenders as well. Rising Spaniard Jaume Munar is the 12th seed, while the mercurial American Sebastian Korda also sneaks a seeding at No 11.
2025 Winston-Salem Betting Odds
- Stefanos Tsitsipas @ 9.50 (+850)
- Diallo Gabriel @ 10.00 (+900)
- Tallon Griekspoor @ 10.00 (+900)
- Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard @ 15.00 (+1400)
- Hamad Medjedovic @ 15.00 (+1400)
- Lorenzo Sonego @ 15.00 (+1400)
- Nuno Borges @ 17.00 (+1600)
- Matteo Arnaldi @ 17.00 (+1600)
- Sebastian Korda @ 21.00 (+2000)
Punters would be forgiven for looking at these odds and thinking these were the outrights for a golf tournament, not tennis. Rarely does a winner pay as long as 9.50 (+850) in tennis, but that just indicates how wide open this field is without the presence of any top-20 players.
Betting Tips and Predictions for the 2025 Winston-Salem Open
This draw openness presents an excellent opportunity for value in Winston-Salem. Below are the best bets to capitalize on this:
- Value Bet: Sebastian Korda to Win
One bet jumps out to us as head and shoulders above the rest this week, and that’s backing Korda for some success here in Winston-Salem.
The American has a track record of bringing his best level the week before Grand Slams (and subsequently tricking bookies into thinking he’s a major contender, which has always flattered to deceive).
Just check out these results:
- 2025 – makes the Adelaide final before the Australian Open
- 2024 – wins Washington and makes the Canada Masters semi-finals before the US Open
- 2024 – makes the s Hertogenbosch final and Queen’s semi-finals before Wimbledon
- 2024 – makes the Adelaide semi-finals before the Australian Open
- 2023 – makes the Winston-Salem semi-finals before the US Open
- 2023 – makes the Queen’s semi-finals before Wimbledon
- 2023 – makes the Adelaide final before the Australian Open
And that’s just the past two-and-a-bit years. Korda consistently turns it on when a big event is on the horizon; it’s rare that he doesn’t make a pre-Grand Slam run.
Sure, of these results, just one has been winning a tournament. However – considering his strong track record, the lack of depth to the field in Winston-Salem, and his lucrative odds of $21.00 (+2000) – this is a bet we can’t ignore. Take him each way if you’re feeling slightly more conservative.
Form-wise, there’s little to draw on for Korda, as he’s been out of action since the clay season. We’re not concerned though: the 25-year-old is a seasoned veteran when it comes to returning from injury. He’s got a kind draw too with Borges the seed in his eighth, giving him time to tick through a few matches first.
- Risky Bet: Things to Click for Tsitsipas
We’re hesitant to recommend this punt, given how much of a tough watch the Greek has been the past 18 months. However, this just feels like the kind of week that things may begin to click for Tsitsipas.
After yet another failed coaching experiment with Goran Ivanisevic, Tsitsipas finally gave up and reverted back to partnering with his father, Apostolos. While this may seem like yet another red flag from the former world No 3’s camp, we like it. He’s owning the fact that his dad is the only person who can handle him, and is leaning into that.
Since the switch, it hasn’t been all rainbows and butterflies with a couple of early losses in the two Masters 1000 hard-court events so far. But with a bit more time back together, and the very low stakes of an ATP 250 tournament the week before a major, it would be no surprise if a much healthier Tsitsipas shows up on court this week.
It’s a risky bet because if Marcos Giron was to beat him in the third round that wouldn’t feel like an upset, so bet this one at your own risk. But we can’t shake the feeling that Tsitsipas is about to throw a curveball into the mix and hit a vein of form.
