The evening matches of the second day of the ATP 2019 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati will be just as exciting as the earlier ones. With recent Washington champion Nick Kyrgios and the greats of the grass-court season Sam Querrey and Matteo Berrettini all taking the court, we should expect plenty of emotions in the first round of the main draw. We also have predictions for other Monday matches, including Andy Murray’s return to singles.
ATP Cincinnati Monday Predictions
Nick Kyrgios vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-head: First meeting
Nick Kyrgios’s title run at Washington two weeks ago was brilliant but the Australian ended up burning a few more bridges. No offense to Lorenzo Sonego, but he hasn’t really shown his hard court potential matches his clay-court abilities yet and if Kyrgios can keep his mind together, it will be very hard for the Italian to overcome the Australian’s blasting serve.
Prediction: Kyrgios in 2
Guido Pella vs Casper Ruud
Head-to-head: Pella 1-0
Guido Pella has been proving he is so much more than a clay-court specialist this year. The Argentinian reached his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon and had a great showing last week in Toronto (defeated David Goffin and Radu Albot, lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal). Ruud isn’t that well-developed yet and has last played on hard courts back in April. The Norwegian has a forehand that can peak out of nowhere and dominate the match; but in the long run, Pella will be much too solid.
Prediction: Pella in 2
Matteo Berrettini vs Juan Ignacio Londero
Head-to-head: First meeting
Another breakout star of the 2019 ATP Tour, Berrettini last played at Wimbledon where he reached the fourth round (lost to eventual runner-up Roger Federer). Londero won his maiden ATP title this year at Cordoba and reached the finals at Bastad. The Argentinian is no doubt a fantastic clay court player but a surface like this gives a huge edge to Berrettini who will be very hard to stop as soon as he starts hitting the spots on serve and gets his forehand going.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
Sam Querrey vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert
Head-to-head: Tied 1-1
Querrey will be back for the first time since the grass-court season where he really managed to turn his year around, finishing runner-up at Eastbourne and reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon (lost to Rafael Nadal). It will be interesting to see whether the American can pick up right where he left off. Herbert is on a five-match losing streak at the moment and if Querrey is anything near his form from a month ago, the quicker surface will help him to penetrate the court with his booming serve and forehand combination.
Prediction: Querrey in 2
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Disagree with our ATP Cincinnati Monday Predictions? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.
