The semifinals are set at the ATP Cincinnati Masters with the top four seeds all reaching the semis for the first time in a Masters event since 2012. Daniil Medvedev will look to make back-to-back Masters 1000s finals and have a chance to win both his second consecutive Masters title and his second here in Cincinnati. He takes on fellow Russian Andrey Rublev who has been as good as anyone this year, sitting fifth in the ATP Race to Milan. Rublev is looking to make his second career Masters 1000 final after finishing as runner-up in Monte Carlo earlier in the year.
The second match pits familiar foes Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev against each other. They played a tight five-setter at this year’s French Open, and Tsitsipas won his first Masters this year and will be hungry for more. Even without the big three, this has been an exciting tournament with a semifinal line-up that will be familiar to tennis fans for years to come.
ATP Cincinnati Semifinal Predictions
Daniil Medvedev vs Andrey Rublev
Head-to-head: Medvedev 5-0 Rublev
Medvedev has absolutely dominated the head-to-head, winning all 12 sets they have played. Their two most recent meetings came at grand slams, including this year’s Australian Open where Medvedev won easily while Rublev struggled with the heat. All of their meetings have come on hard, which is both player’s best surface, though Medvedev has been the second best player in the world on hard courts the last couple years. Medvedev has been able to neutralize Rublev’s power with his flat balls and impressive reach, slanting the matchup in his favor.
This week, Medvedev looks like the man to beat. Coming off an impressive title in Toronto, the biggest concern was potential fatigue. He has not been hampered at all, winning all six sets he has played with no opponent winning more than three games in any of those sets. Rublev has struggled a bit, dropping two sets in three matches and struggling to put away a sick Gael Monfils in the third round. All signs point to Medvedev and rightfully so.
Rublev has been excellent at taking care of lesser players but has struggled against the game’s best, including his countryman. Medvedev will not have too much trouble with Rublev who will simply lack the answers for the dominant Medvedev here at the ATP Cincinnati Masters.
Prediction: Medvedev in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Alexander Zverev vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 6-2 Zverev
Zverev, along with Medvedev, has been the most successful NextGen player in Masters events, capturing four titles and looking for more, especially after his Olympic gold medal. Tsitsipas won his first Masters of his career this year, and though his biggest wins have come on clay, he is plenty dangerous on hard courts with four titles on the surface. Tsitsipas has played Zverev well and boasts a 5-1 record against the German on hard courts.
Zverev won their most recent meeting on the surface in Acapulco earlier this year. Zverev has looked good this week and while benefitting from an easy draw, has spent little time on court and will come in fresh after skipping Toronto. Tsitsipas had a good run to the Toronto semis, but has been tested here, going to a third set in each of his last two matches. Zverev will need to rely on his big serve to beat Tsitsipas, but he has certainty brought it to Cincinnati.
He has been broken just once in three matches, and the break was on the only break point he has faced all tournament. Tsitsipas has dominated their past matchups, but Zverev is fresher, in great form after the Olympics, and his serve and power will give Tsitsipas trouble from the baseline. The match will be close, but ultimately Zverev has been too strong and will reach the final.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Main photo:
