Most seeds begin their ATP Cincinnati Masters campaigns on Wednesday, so the order of play is extremely stacked. Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas–and that’s just what we have for you in this one set of matches. We also predict the rest of the day’s matches, split between two articles–featuring Novak Djokovic vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Holger Rune vs Makenzie McDonald. Who do you think will advance to the third round?
ATP Cincinnati Day 4 Predictions
Alexander Zverev vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Head-to-head: Zverev 1-0
The way Alexander Zverev blasted Grigor Dimitrov in the opening round makes you think he might be very dangerous in Cincinnati this week. Yoshihito Nishioka can often be a tricky opponent, but recently the Japanese has just been way too all over the place mentally and is getting frustrated really easily. His lefty spins are also more dangerous against right-handers with weak backhands, whereas for Zverev it’s the stronger shot.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
[cta id=445 type=cta]
Daniil Medvedev vs Lorenzo Musetti
Head-to-head: Medvedev 1-0
Lorenzo Musetti won at least two matches in each of his last eight events–and that’s across grass, clay, and hard. That sort of consistency is impressive from someone who’s basically considered a clay-court specialist. Daniil Medvedev might be able to snap that streak though. The Russian is basically in another league when it comes to this surface and has just straight-setted Musetti in Toronto. Feels like the Italian would have to serve out of his mind to prevail somehow.
Prediction: Medvedev in 2
Hubert Hurkacz vs Borna Coric
Head-to-head: Coric 3-1
This has been an extremely tricky matchup for Hubert Hurkacz in the last few years, although he did dominate Borna Coric in their only outdoor hard court matchup. The Croat won twice on clay and indoors. Coric is also the defending Cincinnati champion and when he won here last year, he was serving extremely well and using his forehand more aggressively than throughout his career. If he can maintain that, this will likely be another festival of tie-breaks that Hurkacz has gotten us used to.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Ben Shelton
Head-to-head: First meeting
Stefanos Tsitsipas can often struggle against big servers, especially ones who can target his one-handed backhand. Ben Shelton with his lefty serve out wide feels like one of the prime examples of that and last year, he was a nightmare matchup for players like Christopher Eubanks or Aleksandar Kovacevic. But the American isn’t flying quite as high now and he’s statistically the weakest returner in the Top 50. Entertaining rivalry, but Shelton would need to find his Australian Open form to win.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
