Otto Virtanen vs Andrey Rublev Preview & Prediction | 2026 US Open | First Round

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Qualifier Otto Virtanen takes on four-time US Open quarter-finalist Andrey Rublev as the first round continues at Flushing Meadows.

Start date/time: 31 August 2026 at 4:00 pm

Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, USA

Surface: Outdoor hard

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / USA – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – ESPN+

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Otto Virtanen vs Andrey Rublev ticket information

Otto Virtanen vs Andrey Rublev prediction

Just as he did at Wimbledon, where he reached the second round, Otto Virtanen has come through qualifying to make the main draw of the US Open, with the Finn navigating his way past Ugo Blanchet and Jack Pinnington-Jones before receiving a bye against Grigor Dimitrov.

The 25-year-old reached the second round on his last appearance at Flushing Meadows in 2024, but he is up against it here given that he faces 23rd seed Andrey Rublev.

Rublev won the Swedish Open on clay courts immediately following Wimbledon, but he has not fared as well on hard courts since in the run-up to New York.

Having said that, the former world number five is a four-time quarter-finalist at Flushing Meadows and hasn't lost at the first hurdle since 2018.

Virtanen will be a stubborn opponent but Rublev should have the weapons to ease through this opener without too much hassle.

Otto Virtanen vs Andrey Rublev tip: Andrey Rublev to win 3-0