Steve Johnson - Taylor Fritz predictions and free betting tips [28/08/2023]

In the first round of the US Open on hard surface, two Americans, Steve Johnson and Taylor Fritz, are slated to play. I'm betting on Fritz to win with a game handicap of -6.

Steve Johnson

At 33 years of age, Steve, who ranks 186th in the world, recently played in the Stanford Challenger, losing in the first match to Watanuki with a score of 5:7, 7:5, 4:6. Before that, the tennis player claimed a title at the hard court Lexington Challenger. Johnson bested Harris, Spizzirri, Blanch, Sandgren, and Cazaux, not losing a single set in all five victorious matches. 

In late July, at the Newport Championships, Johnson triumphed over Chun with a score of 6:2, 6:3, then lost to Umberto 4:6, 4:6, and later suffered a defeat in his first match at the Chicago Challenger against Basava Reddy with a score of 3:6, 6:2, 4:6. Early in July, Johnson clinched a title at the hard court Bloomfield Challenger. He beat Matthew with a score of 7:6 (9:7), 6:4, McCabe 6:4, 6:2, Utiyama 6:4, 6:7 (0:7), 7:6 (7:4), Sculley 6:4, 6:2 and Kukushkin with a score of 6:4, 6:7 (7:9), 7:6 (7:4). Prior to this, Steve had a dispiriting season, winning only 5 out of 18 matches. At Wimbledon, he failed to pass the qualifying round and conceded to Stricker with a score of 5:7, 4:6, at the Nottingham Challenger he was defeated by Ferry with a score of 6:4, 3:6, 3:6, and at the French Open, he was bested by Bergs in a qualifying match with a score of 4:6, 4:6.

In early February, Steve reached the quarterfinals of the Cleveland Challenger, overcoming Foretek and Silig but then lost to Kovachevich. In other tournaments, he was able twice to pass the second round, but in most cases he either lost in the first round or failed to qualify.

Taylor Fritz

25-year-old Fritz, who holds the 9th place in the world rankings, participated in the Cincinnati tournament where he made it to the quarterfinals. He bested Lehecka with a score of 7:6 (16:14), 6:2, Sonego with a score of 6:4, 7:6 (7:1) and Lajovic. Against Lajovic, Fritz was comfortably leading with a score of 5:0 in the first set when his opponent decided to retire the game. Fritz then went up against Djokovic, suffering a defeat with a score of 0:6, 4:6. Earlier, at the Toronto tournament, Fritz triumphed over Humbert with a score of 7:6 (9:7), 3:6, 6:3 but lost to De Minaur in the next match with a score of 6:7 (7:9), 6:4, 1:6.

In the previous Washington tournament, Fritz managed to reach the semifinals, defeating Swajda 6:3, 6:3, Murray 6:7 (2:7), 6:3, 6:4 and Thompson 6:3, 6:3, only to later lose to Griekspoor 6:3, 3:6, 2:6. At the Atlanta tournament, Taylor played confidently, securing a tournament victory. In the process, he defeated Wu Yibin with a score of 6:4, 7:6 (7:5), Nishikori 6:4, 6:2, Wolf 6:3, 7:5 and Vukic 7:5, 6:7 (5:7), 6:4.

However, not all of Fritz's performances can be deemed successful, at Wimbledon he managed to defeat Hanfmann, but suffered defeat against Imer, and in Eastbourne, he failed to overcome the first round, losing to McDonald. At the London tournament, Taylor started with a win over Zapata Miralles, but then conceded to Mannarino, and in mid-June at the Stuttgart competitions, he bested Karatsev, only to lose to Ficovich later.

In the early season, Fritz showed good results in tournaments in Munich, Monte-Carlo, Acapulco and Dallas, reaching the semifinals. In February, he won the Delray Beach tournament going over Gomez, Mannarino, McDonald and Kecmanovic.

Head-to-head

The sportsmen have previously met 10 times, and their match record stands at 5:5.

Johnson - Fritz match prediction

Taylor Fritz is regarded as the clear favourite in the upcoming match thanks to his experience, current form and class. Johnson previously triumphed over Taylor, but that was two years ago and I believe he won't be able to put up a fight now. I back Fritz to win.