ATP US OPEN BETTING TIPS RAFAEL NADAL VS. DENIS ISTOMIN

Rafael Nadal is set to face Denis Istomin, under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, to decide a spot in the US Open third round.
Nadal goes into their second round clash as the massive favourite to win outright, listed at a firm 1/12. Istomin, however, poses a legitimate threat to the Spaniard’s bid. But does the Uzbek, tipped at 6/1 to win outright, pose enough a threat to be a credible bet and to thwart Nadal in his pursuit of the US Open crown, the only crown missing to complete a career Grand Slam.
In some ways, yes he does. Istomin is a player on the move, rising up the rankings. There is a lot to like about his game – his serve is huge and it should really test Nadal’s return game. Something the Spaniard’s been struggling with during the American hard court swing.
Importantly, Istomin had a standout US Open series and recently, he finished runner-up at New Haven (l. to Stakhovsky). That this recent run came a week before the US Open augurs well for him and sends him into this next clash on an optimistic wave.
It also means he’s played many matches in the last two weeks and that could be a disadvantage. Depends where his fitness and form truly lay whether all that court time will have a positive or negative effect.
Beating Nadal is no mean feat. Nadal has lost a staggering seven matches in nine months, so you get a sense of how difficult it is to beat him. More importantly, his losses are mostly to top opposition – Davydenko, Murray (twice), and Roddick, and former top ten players Marcos Baghdatis and Ivan Ljubicic. Only Feliciano Lopez has managed to join this lofty circle but the Spaniard was once a top 20 player (2005).
Istomin has only had one occasion to stare down the world No.1 player and that came in London this summer at Queen’s Club. I have to say, he accounted well and managed to take a set off Nadal before succumbing in three.
To mastermind the biggest upset of the tournament Istomin would have to play the match of his life. Now, while I can’t say he cannot do it, I can’t, at the same time, insist that he can with any certainty. I suppose there is always a possibility. You never know when a player might tap into that zone from which he can channel otherworldly tennis.
That is exactly what it will take to send Nadal packing because he’s not going to capitulate. The match is on the World No.1’s racquet and not until the last ball is struck will he stop fighting for his place in the R32.