Just two men remain in contention at the Cincinnati Masters. Both men will be looking to head into the US Open undefeated since the reason resumed. But who will claim the Cincinnati Masters title and who will walk away from the final empty handed?
Cincinnati Masters Final Prediction
Novak Djokovic vs Milos Raonic
Head-to-head: Djokovic 10-0 Raonic
It has been some week for Milos Raonic. The Canadian looks to have used the weeks of rest afforded by the break in the season to regain his fitness and with it some of his best form. He started his week with a 6-4 6-4 win over Sam Querrey and he backed that up by beating Dan Evans 6-3 7-5. Raonic then got the better of a weary Andy Murray, winning 6-2 6-2, to reach the quarterfinals. There Raonic rallied from the brink to beat Filip Krajinovic 4- 7-6 7-5, before beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 6-3.
Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, started his campaign with a 7-6 6-4 win over Ricardas Berankis. He was not at his best in that match, but delivered a much-improved performance to beat Tennys Sandgren 6-2 6-4 to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. There he faced Jan-Lennard Struff and he beat the German for the third time in succession. However, in the semifinals he was given a real test by Roberto Bautista Agut. But he ultimately beat the Spaniard 4-6 6-4 7-6, winning the deciding tiebreak 7-0.
The Serbian was brought to the brink by Bautista Agut, but one suspects this will not be as closely contested. They have faced off ten times on tour and Djokovic has won every match. In fact, he has dropped just two sets in completing those ten victories. Clearly then, this is a match up that Djokovic enjoys, with the Serbian able to neutralise Raonic’s serve and outmanoeuvre him from the baseline. Expect Djokovic to do so again.
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