The Pick: Bianca Andreescu vs. Lauren Davis, US Open second round

Here is a fun stat: Since her run to the 2019 Indian Wells title, Bianca Andreescu has gone the distance in 28 out of 48 matches, including her 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 win over Viktorija Golubic that ended early Wednesday morning in New York. The Canadian has battled a slew of nagging injuries which have kept her off the court, and it's prevented her from demolishing opponents like she did in the beginning of her career.

The 2019 US Open champion is markedly more complete than her next opponent, Lauren Davis, but will Andreescu finally be able to close the door on a dominant scoreline? She has yet to earn a win and cover her game spread in her last nine matches, dating back to her 6-1, 6-4 victory over world No. 113 Maryna Zanevska in Strasbourg.

According to the oddsmakers, the Canadian is a solid -340 favorite, and projected to win by five games with an over/under total of 19.5 games. It’s risky, but after surviving an in-form, huge-hitting Golubic, and a full day’s rest, Andreescu should have what it takes to finally lay the smackdown on her opponent.

At first I thought about taking the over 19.5 games, since that's what recent history would tell us to do. But Andreescu can inflict so much damage on the 5’2" American’s serve that she should be able to protect her own enough to allow for a drama-free match.

We are therefore going with the under 19.5 game total, as opposed to Andreescu -5, to make some room for the unlikely event of a straight-set victory by Davis. If Andreescu struggles with the Gates Mills, Oh. native, there’s likely a bigger issue for the defending champion than just her week-to-week health.

The Pick: Under 19.5 total games