Laslo Djere vs. Novak Djokovic US Open prediction, odds, tip

Laslo Djere takes on Novak Djokovic. Our US Open odds series includes our Djere Djokovic prediction and picks. Find out how to watch Djere Djokovic.

A year ago, Laslo Djere played against fellow Serbian Novak Djokovic in the third round of the US Open. Everyone expected a routine match, and rightly so. Djokovic had won two major championships in 2023 and then narrowly lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the fifth set of the Wimbledon final. Djokovic was the best male tennis player in the world last year. Carlos Alcaraz was very good, but Djokovic was better. Of course, Djokovic would beat Djere on his way to the championship. At least, that was the general opinion.

That was not how it turned out, however. Djokovic fell behind by two sets. Djere was clearly the better player in the first 75 minutes of the match. Djokovic has come back from two sets down many times in his career at major tournaments, but at the age of 36, two-set comebacks are no longer as natural for a tennis player as they were in the late twenties or early thirties when you were still at your physical and athletic best.

Djokovic was not discouraged. He calmly collected himself and won the next three sets comfortably – just as people expected at the start of the match – to win in five sets. Djokovic may have won the US Open title in 2023, but this test against Djere was perhaps the wake-up call he needed.

This year, Djokovic doesn't need another five-set win. He needs a quiet, smooth first week to fill the energy tank for the second week. We saw how little energy Djokovic had in the Wimbledon final against Alcaraz. That's a five-set match. Djokovic beat Alcaraz at the Olympics, but that was a three-set match. Djokovic needs to be physically fresh when he faces Alcaraz at the end of this tournament. If he plays another five-set win against Djere, it will disrupt his plans.

Here are the US Open odds for Laslo Djere vs. Novak Djokovic, courtesy of FanDuel.

US Open odds: Laslo Djere-Novak Djokovic

Gameplay:

Djere +9.5: -138
Djokovic -9.5: +106

Money line:

Djere +2200

Djokovic -8000

How to win the first set:

Djere +690

Djokovic -1200

Total number of games in the game:

Over 28.5: -112
Below 28.5: -118

Total number of games won:

Djere over 9.5: -130
Djere under 9.5: -104

Djokovic over 18.5: -122
Djokovic under 18.5: -110

How to watch the US Open

Time: Approximately 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT — may be 30 minutes earlier or later depending on the length of the previous game

Television: ESPN, ESPN Plus

Stream: (free trial)

Why Laslo Djere will win

Djokovic is an elite player, but even elite players can struggle with the reality of playing a friend and fellow countryman in a major tournament. That seemed to limit Djokovic a year ago. Djere gets 9.5 games, a huge spread. To even the spread, he just needs to win at least three games per set. If he loses 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 – a one-sided result – he still covers the spread. That's a lot of games.

Why Novak Djokovic will win

Djokovic will remember last year. Djere is a friend, but Djokovic knows he has to make this match quick, not long. Djokovic will take care of his business and finish the match in less than two hours.

Final Laslo Djere-Novak Djokovic prediction and tip

Djokovic should win in straight sets, but as we saw last year, playing against a fellow Serbian could be emotionally difficult. We're leaning towards Djokovic winning fewer than 18.5 games – a bet that won against Radu Albot in the first round – but our official position is to skip this match.

Click here for more betting news and predictions

Latest Laslo Djere-Novak Djokovic Prediction & Tip: Djokovic under 18.5 games