It should be an exciting day four at the ATP Cincinnati Open with 12 intriguing matches on the schedule. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our picks for every match, including Rafael Nadal vs Borna Coric and Taylor Fritz vs Nick Kyrgios. But who will secure their place in the third round in Ohio?
ATP Cincinnati Day 4 Predictions
Tommy Paul vs Denis Shapovalov
Head-to-head: Paul 2-0 Shapovalov
Tommy Paul has got plenty of practice on hard courts in the lead up to the ATP Cincinnati Open. His biggest win by far was his second-round win over Carlos Alcaraz en route to the quarterfinals in Montreal. In his first round match this week, he made short work of his compatriot Jenson Brooksby and will surely come into this clash with real confidence. Denis Shapovalov is going through a terrible patch, but his win over Grigor Dimitrov in his opener will surely have been a confidence boost. Still, in the two matches the pair have played so far, Paul has emerged on top in both. Expect a similar result here.
Prediction: Paul in 2
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Frances Tiafoe vs Sebastian Korda
Head-to-head: Tiafoe 3-0 Korda
Frances Tiafoe edged out Matteo Berrettini in a close three setter in his first-round match to maintain his fine recent form after a semifinal showing in Atlanta and a run to the quarterfinals in Washington D.C. Sebastian Korda had a comparatively easy time of it in his first-round encounter, beating Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-4. This will be the third time that this particular all-American clash takes place and Tiafoe is yet to lose a match to Korda. There doesn’t seem to be much reason to expect that to change.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 3
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John Isner vs Hubert Hurkacz
Head-to-head: Isner 2-0 Hurkacz
In this match between two huge servers, the player with the better baseline game is best placed to win. That player is certainly Hubert Hurkacz, and not just because he is younger and in rather better form. John Isner does have a wining record against Hurkacz and a good record in Cincinnati (he reached the final in 2013 and the semifinals in 2017), but expect the tables to turn now. Isner isn’t going to let himself be pushed around on home turf, but the Pole should have enough to reach the third round.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
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Andy Murray vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-head: Murray 2-0 Norrie
Andy Murray will play this match after a physically excruciating three-hour first-round match against his old rival Stan Wawrinka. In his pomp, this would have been the sort of challenge that Murray relished, but he is not the force he once was. Especially physically. And Norrie, in the midst of a career-best season, is not the sort of opponent any player would want to face when they need to finish points quickly.
Prediction: Norrie in 3
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