Landaluce vs Fearnley Prediction 30 August 2026
π Jacob Fearnley has been handed a second chance at the US Open, entering the main draw as a lucky loser after falling in the final round of qualifying. His first-round opponent is 2022 US Open junior champion MartΓn Landaluce. At senior level, the Spaniard has only one appearance at the New York major to his name - a failed qualifying campaign - while Fearnley reached the second round at the same event. That likely explains why the Briton is the bookmakers' favourite despite sitting lower in the rankings, which makes it all the more interesting to see whether the higher-ranked Landaluce can prove them wrong.
Head-to-Head
π MartΓn Landaluce and Jacob Fearnley have never previously met.
Martin Landaluce Player Overview
Martin Landaluce arrives at the US Open having won five and lost five across his last ten matches. His best result during the hard-court swing came at the Cincinnati Masters, where he reached the round of 16 with wins over Matteo Arnaldi and former top player Jack Draper. On serve, Landaluce holds around three-quarters of his service games, though his double-fault rate is above the tour average. Those numbers reflect a playing style that is somewhat unusual for a clay specialist: at 191 cm, his serve stands out among players who made their name on red clay. From the baseline, however, the Spaniard has carried over the deep return position he developed on clay, dropping well behind the line to receive.
Match Results: Martin Landaluce
Jacob Fearnley Player Overview
Fearnley is the lower-ranked player - 100th in the world against his opponent's 65th - and his recent results offer little grounds to call him a clear favourite either, with just four wins from his last ten matches. He failed to come through qualifying for the US Open but made the main draw as a lucky loser. On serve, though, he has been solid: he has held in close to 80% of his service games, which speaks to his ability to stay competitive against players of a similar level. Against opponents who sit deep and defend, Fearnley is comfortable mixing in unexpected slices to pull them off the baseline, and - like many British players - he is equally happy to come forward and play at the net.
Match Results: Jacob Fearnley
Key factors
- Both players average more than 32 games per match in best-of-five.
- Over their last ten matches each, both players have won close to 50% of their sets and games.
- Despite their contrasting styles, both are highly effective on serve.
Expected scenario
This looks like an evenly matched contest: both players are in similar form and tend to play long sets. The chances of the match going to at least four sets, or reaching a fifth, are above average. Expect plenty of holds on the back of big serves from both sides, with the Spaniard likely to make an impact on return and the Briton at the net - factors that should influence the overall length of the match.
β Editor's Pick
Current form gives little reason to separate the two - their numbers in sets and games won are closely matched. With neither player dominating in the first round, a lengthy match looks more likely. Both bring plenty to the table: powerful serves from each man, quality returning from the Spaniard, and an aggressive net game from the Briton. The bookmakers see it as a near coin-flip too, with odds on both players almost identical. All of this points towards an extended contest. Our pick: Total Games - Over 35.5.
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Betting Tips: Martin Landaluce - Jacob Fearnley
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