There should be plenty of entertaining tennis on day two at the ATP Cincinnati Masters, held this year in New York at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. There are a number of intriguing contests on the schedule, with Stefanos Tsitsipas, who faces on former-world #5 Kevin Anderson, and Karen Khachanov, who opens his campaign against Alexander Bublik, amongst those in action. But who will advance?
Cincinnati Masters Day Two Predictions
J.J. Wolf vs Richard Gasquet
Head-to-head: first meeting
This will be a very interesting test of the young J.J. Wolf’s credentials. Gasquet is not the player he once was, but it is not for nothing that the Frenchman has reached three Grand Slam semifinals and amassed 15 career titles. Indeed, whilst injury concerns were mounting for the Frenchman before the season was suspended and his legs beginning to desert him, he has always remained a superb timer of the ball and could well have benefitted from the extended break in play.
Ohio-native Wolf, meanwhile, will surely be desperate to make a big impact at the Cincinnati Masters, even if it has moved from its traditional home in Mason. He certainly impressed in the qualifying, hammering Egor Gerasimov 6-3 6-1 in his opener before beating Jaume Munar, who has been ranked as high as world #52, in the second round to secure his place in the main draw. Gasquet, however, will mark a step up in the quality of his opposition.
But Wolf, despite lacking experience with this to be his debut at tour-level, will have the advantage of greater match sharpness after his run through the qualifying. Where he may fall short against Gasquet is in a lack of weaponry. Wolf has a very tidy game and is adept at taking the ball on the rise, but it is hard to see how he will consistently manage to trouble a player of Gasquet’s quality. The Frenchman, in contrast, still possesses a deadly one-handed backhand. Expect that to prove the difference.
Prediction: Gasquet in 2
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Sebastian Korda vs Emil Ruusuvuori
Head-to-head: first meeting
Emil Ruusuvuori was enjoying a largely profitable start to the season before the coronavirus pandemic halted play, leaving the Finn right on the cusp of making his debut in the world’s top 100. But after an impressive return to action in the qualifying draw at the Cincinnati Masters, where Ruusuvuori thrashed second seed Jeremy Chardy in his opener before benefitting from Thiago Monteiro’s retirement, his debut in the top 100 is all but assured.
But although his first-round opponent Sebastian Korda is amongst the lowest-ranked players in the main draw, the American will surely be full of confidence after scoring one of the finest wins of his career in the final round of qualifying by beating Gilles Simon. However, impressive as that win was, it would not be a surprise to see the inexperienced Korda struggle to cope with the resultant mental and physical fatigue, with Ruusuvuori seemingly well-placed to capitalise.
Prediction: Ruusuvuori in 3
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Diego Schwartzman vs Casper Ruud
Head-to-head: Schwartzman 3-0 Ruud
Casper Ruud, though a solid but not spectacular player, looks like a man with an extremely bright future ahead of him. It would certainly be a surprise if he does not establish himself as a member of the top 20 sooner rather than later. His first-round opponent at the Cincinnati Masters, Diego Schwartzman, arguably offers the perfect blueprint of how to do just that, with the Argentine one of the most consistent performers on the ATP Tour over the past five years.
Central to his success has been a commendable work ethic and a never-say-die attitude, as well as a remarkable ability to time the ball. That has allowed Schwartzman to compensate for his relatively small stature, which has denied him the same sort of easy power boasted by so many of his peers at the top of the game. Ruud has been a first-hand witness to just how effectively Schwartzman has overcome his limitations, losing all three of their previous meetings.
Those matches were all played in 2018 and the Norwegian has improved in the interim, adopting a more aggressive approach, especially away from his preferred clay, and looking to use his forehand to dictate. But he is still not a player to simply hit his opponents off the court, particularly those who move as well as Schwartzman. As a result, to win this match, he will have to try and outlast Schwartzman in lengthy baseline exchanges. And that is an extremely tall order.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 3
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John Isner vs Hubert Hurkacz
Head-to-head: Isner 1-0 Hurkacz
On paper, this looks like one of the most intriguing match-ups of the first round at the Cincinnati Masters. John Isner’s powers have appeared to be slightly on the wane over the last 18 months and the American has slipped outside the world’s top 20. But thanks to his ferocious serve and forehand, he can never be entirely discounted. Hubert Hurkacz, in contrast, has made impressive strides over the same time period and is now just eight places below Isner in the ATP rankings.
He may even be the narrow favourite heading into this contest, despite Isner being the seeded player. Hurkacz, despite standing 6’5” tall, is an excellent mover, making him one of the new generation of athletic big men that also includes Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev. But he also has real power from the back of the court, with the Pole able to strike winners from both wings, as well as soft hands in the forecourt. He seems destined to continue climbing the rankings.
But his game is not without weaknesses, the most notable of which is his return of serve. Isner took full advantage of that in their only previous meeting, which came at the Washington Open last season, recording a 6-4 6-4 win. However, Hurkacz, for the most part, appears a player eager to learn from his past mistakes. If he is able to summon his best tennis, expect him to outmanoeuvre the veteran American and secure his place in the second round.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
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