US Open Predictions Today for Potapova vs. Anisimova, Fritz vs. Cerundolo

The third round of the US Open continues on Saturday, September 5, headlined by Americans Amanda Anisimova, Taylor Fritz, and Madison Keys, all competing during the day. All three are favored in their respective matchups, but are up against quality opponents.

Will the trio of Americans all advance to the round of 16 on home soil?

Below, we’ll break down our top US Open predictions for Saturday’s third-round matches, including winner payouts, key stats, and match predictions for PrizePicks.

Make your US Open predictions on PrizePicks for Saturday’s matches now!

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US Open Predictions, Picks Today – Saturday, September 5

Before we get into our tennis predictions for Saturday, here’s a quick look at the matches we’re focusing on and the consensus favorites on PrizePicks — where you can pick winners on each match.

Tennis on PrizePicks got its biggest upgrade yet just in time for the US Open. Users can now combine a player to win outright with Player Picks, including aces, total games won, and more! Click here for more information.

On PrizePicks Team Picks, a 2x payout represents a return of $200 on a $100 entry (or $20 on $10). A lower payout multiplier signals a higher implied probability of that result based on user picks.

Payouts are live at the time of writing and are subject to change. Tennis winner markets are available in 36 states.

Anastasia Potapova vs. Amanda Anisimova Prediction for US Open – Saturday, September 5

Match Winner Payouts: Potapova 5x | Anisimova 1.14x
Tournament Round: Third Round
2026 Record Entering the US Open: Potapova 27-19 | Anisimova 20-11
Head-to-Head Record: Tied 1-1
Scheduled Time: 11:00 a.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN2

After cruising in straight sets over Ashlyn Krueger in the first round, Amanda Anisimova faced some adversity against Lilli Tagger on Thursday, but she ultimately pulled away with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory.

Despite the brief stumble, the “meme queen” continues to show signs of the player who was a finalist at last year’s US Open.

It’s been a frustrating season for Anisimova, who has been working her way back into form ever since a wrist injury sidelined her for two months in the spring. 

Unsurprisingly, she produced mixed results across several tournaments following her return, but a run to the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals may have finally provided the confidence boost she needed. In that run, Anisimova earned top-20 wins over Alexandra Eala and Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova before ultimately falling to Jessica Pegula in a tight three-setter.

The American now gets world No. 25 Anastasia Potapova, a player who entered the US Open with plenty of questions herself.

A strong clay season propelled Potapova into the top 30, but those good vibes quickly vanished on grass and hard courts, where she went 3-6 across her last six events before arriving in New York.

While Potapova could be turning a corner after a couple of wins, her opponents were lucky loser Darja Semenistaja and wild card Leolia Jeanjean — a pair of players ranked outside the top 100 who were also struggling ahead of the US Open.   

We already know what kind of ceiling Anisimova has as a two-time major finalist, and with her level trending in the right direction, Potapova may have a tough time keeping up.  

Per Tennis Abstract’s Elo ratings, Anisimova projects to win this match 68.5% of the time.

Make your Potapova vs. Anisimova US Open prediction on PrizePicks now!

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Potapova vs. Anisimova Pick for US Open Today

Potapova vs. Anisimova Pick — 19.5 Total Games

Almost all of Potapova’s success in 2026 has come on clay, as she’s just 11-11 on hard courts this year. Over her career, she’s won 65.9% of her tour-level matches on clay compared to 51.8% on hard courts.

Potapova is 3-20 in her career against top-10 players on hard courts and hasn’t beaten one since 2023.

This season, Potapova has won 52.8% of her service games on this surface, which is the worst mark among the top 50 players. 

Meanwhile, Anisimova has won 46.3% of her return points on hard courts in 2026, the sixth-best figure among the top 50 players.

In her second-round win, Potapova struggled with double faults, committing 9 in her victory.  

Pick Anisimova to win + total games on PrizePicks for higher payouts!

Madison Keys vs. Qinwen Zheng Prediction for US Open – Saturday, September 5

Match Winner Payouts: Keys 1.56x | Zheng 2.32x
Tournament Round: Third Round
2026 Record Entering the US Open: Keys 33-14 | Zheng 11-13
Head-to-Head Record: Tied 1-1
Scheduled Time: 11:00 a.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN2

Madison Keys looked to be on her way out of the tournament in the second round, but she miraculously saved five match points and came back from a double-break deficit in the third set to force a final-set tiebreak.

Keys eventually escaped with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over Anna Bondar.

While surviving multiple match points isn’t exactly how you draw things up for a successful tournament, it’s the kind of gutsy win that could give Keys renewed self-belief going forward.   

The 2025 Australian Open champion has had a solid season in Grand Slams, reaching the round of 16 at each of the previous three majors. She’s now one win away from advancing that far in all four.

Qinwen Zheng is ranked outside the WTA top 100 and actually had to punch her ticket to the main draw as a qualifier. The 23-year-old underwent elbow surgery last summer and has been working her way back into form throughout the season, which helps explain her low ranking.

Zheng is a former top-five player and Olympic gold medalist, showing just how dangerous she can be when she’s at her best.

That being said, this run to the third round marks the first time Zheng has won more than two matches in a row all season. Including qualifying, she’s also gone to a deciding set in three straight matches despite facing opponents ranked outside the top 80.

It just doesn’t seem like Zheng is performing at a high enough level to trust her chances against a player of Keys’ caliber, particularly with the American having the New York crowd behind her. 

According to Tennis Abstract’s Elo ratings, Keys has a 64.3% chance to defeat Zheng.

Make your Keys vs. Zheng US Open prediction on PrizePicks now!

Madison Keys vs. Qinwen Zheng Pick for US Open Today

Keys vs. Zheng Pick — 22.5 Total Games

Dating back to the Cincinnati Open, not many of Keys’ matches have been very straightforward. Her last six matches have tallied 28, 16, 23, 32, 22, and 35 total games.

Similarly, Zheng’s last three matches have totaled 25, 26, and 25 games. 

Despite the season she’s having, Zheng has generally played competitive matches against top-50 opponents, as eight of her 13 such meetings have gone the distance. That includes a three-set loss this summer in Washington to Alexandra Eala, who would go on to win the title.

These two played earlier this year in Miami, and Zheng came back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.  

Pick Keys to win + total games on PrizePicks for higher payouts!

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Taylor Fritz vs. Francisco Cerundolo Prediction for US Open — Saturday, September 5

Match Winner Payouts: Fritz 1.12x | Cerundolo 5.26x
Tournament Round: Third Round
2026 Record Entering the US Open: Fritz 31-15 | Cerundolo 28-16
Head-to-Head Record: Tied 1-1
Scheduled Time: 11:30 a.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN2

Taylor Fritz has bulldozed through his first two opponents, knocking out Darwin Blanch 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 before dismantling Mattia Bellucci 6-0, 6-1, 6-1.

The 2024 US Open finalist appears to be a man on a mission, and Francisco Cerundolo will need to bring his A-game to compete with a far higher-ranked opponent.

Unfortunately for Cerundolo, that feels unlikely considering he came into the event having lost four of his last five matches; the lone win came via his opponent retiring.

Cerundolo is also coming off a five-setter against Jan-Lennard Struff that went nearly four hours, which is more court time than both of Fritz’s matches combined.

Tennis Abstract’s model projects Fritz to win 61.5% of the time, but his recent form suggests his true chances could be even higher.

Make your Fritz vs. Cerundolo US Open prediction on PrizePicks now!

Taylor Fritz vs. Francisco Cerundolo Pick for US Open Today

Fritz vs. Cerundolo Pick — 35.5 Total Games

Through two rounds, Fritz’s matches reached just 27 and 20 total games. He’s faced only five break points and has saved all of them.

Cerundolo has struggled with consistency on serve so far, already logging 23 double faults.

According to Tennis Data Innovations, Fritz has the ATP Tour’s third-best serve shot quality over the past 52 weeks.

The Argentine arrived in New York with an 8-7 record on hard courts. He has just a 50.8% career win rate on the surface.

Pick Fritz to win + total games on PrizePicks for higher payouts!

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Make Your US Open Predictions Today on PrizePicks

The Americans have had a strong showing at the US Open so far. Can Amanda Anisimova, Taylor Fritz, and Madison Keys advance to the next round on Saturday?

Don’t wait until Saturday’s US Open matches start — make your tennis predictions on PrizePicks now.

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Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats like games won or aces, or make match winner predictions with PrizePicks, available in 36 states!

Stay locked in on Playbook for daily US Open predictions, tennis picks, and PrizePicks analysis throughout the tournament.