Yulia Putintseva vs Zheng: US Open prediction Thursday
Yulia Putintseva, ranked No. 84, meets Qinwen Zheng (No. 121) in the US Open Round of 64 on Thursday, September 3, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Zheng is the betting favorite despite her lower ranking, but Putintseva enters confident after beating No. 12 Belinda Bencic and owns a perfect head-to-head record against Zheng.
Key Takeaways
- Yulia Putintseva faces Qinwen Zheng in the Round of 64 on hard courts in New York on Thursday, September 3.
- Zheng is favored on the moneyline (around -250 to -278), while Putintseva sits near +210.
- Putintseva has never lost to Zheng and recently upset world No. 12 Belinda Bencic in three sets.
- Zheng reached this round by beating Kristina Liutova in three sets after a rough stretch of form.
- Prediction models still lean Zheng to win, though several outlets flag Putintseva as the value play.
Who is favored when Yulia Putintseva plays Zheng?
Bookmakers make Zheng the clear favorite even though she ranks well below Putintseva. Bleacher Nation listed Zheng at -278 (about a 73.5% implied win chance) against Putintseva at +210 (about 32.3%). Dimers later showed similar pricing, with Zheng near -250 and Putintseva still at +210.
Dimers' simulation model gives Zheng a 68% chance to win and a 65% chance to take the first set. That gap explains why the market leans Chinese despite Putintseva's higher WTA ranking of No. 84 versus Zheng's No. 121.
Why does Yulia Putintseva have upset credentials here?
Putintseva arrives with momentum. She beat Belinda Bencic, then world No. 12, in three sets in the opening round. SportyTrader notes she has defeated Zheng twice before and has never lost to the Chinese star, including at Grand Slam level.
Her 2026 form is mixed at 18-19, but she has won 155 break points this year compared with Zheng's 79, per Bleacher Nation. That return pressure could matter on New York hard courts if rallies lengthen.
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What do the stats and picks say about this US Open match?
Zheng's 2026 record sits at 15-13. She averages 8.9 aces per match to Putintseva's 1.4, a clear first-serve edge. She also needed three sets to get past Kristina Liutova in the first round, a sign she is not yet cruising.
Dimers still projects Zheng as the most likely winner but named Putintseva moneyline (+210) as its top value pick. SportyTrader prefers Putintseva +1.5 sets at -115, arguing she can at least force a deciding set after the Bencic win. Match coverage and odds context are detailed by Bleacher Nation.
The match is scheduled for Thursday at about 12:40 p.m. ET in the US Open women's singles second round. Expect a competitive hard-court battle where Putintseva's head-to-head edge meets Zheng's heavier serve and favorite status.