The stage is set for an entertaining second day at the ATP Cincinnati Masters with some star names set to enter the fray in the US. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Joao Fonseca. But who will book their spot in the third round?
ATP Cincinnati Day 3 Predictions
Sebastian Baez vs Gabriel Diallo
Head-to-head: Baez 1-0 Diallo
Sebastian Baez posted a rare hard-court win in the opening round against David Goffin with recently his wins being quite rare even regardless of surface. But maybe things just worked out for him here as on court like this, he can play with almost no expectations. That could make him a relatively tricky customer, but Gabriel Diallo still looks like the massive favorite here. The Canadian has made so much progress and has the weapons to put Baez away on a quick hard court.
Prediction: Diallo in 2
Terence Atmane vs Flavio Cobolli
Head-to-head: first meeting
Terence Atmane dropped a few positions in the rankings recently, but remains a potential top 100 debutant this year if he can land one or two big results. With three wins in Cincinnati already, the Frenchman should be feeling good about his game right now. It’s just that mentally, he tends to go away when he faces adversity, which leaves him vulnerable. Flavio Cobolli is the more complete, rounded player and Atmane will have to be fully locked in for the entire match to beat him. A Cobolli win looks the more likely outcome.
Prediction: Cobolli in 3
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Fabian Marozsan
Head-to-head: first meeting
When Stefanos Tsitsipas won the ATP 500 in Dubai in February, everybody thought it would be a springboard for him and would lead to a phenomenal clay season. That didn’t happen and the recent stint with Goran Ivanisevic also ended poorly with the Greek eventually returning to his father as his main coach. After the loss to Christopher O’Connell last week, it’s tough to be optimistic. Fabian Marozsan has that quick aggression to put pressure on Tsitsipas’s backhand if he executes right.
Prediction: Marozsan in 3
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Jannik Sinner vs Daniel Elahi Galan
Head-to-head: Sinner 2-0 Galan
Jannik Sinner is 36-1 on hard courts since winning this tournament last year with the lone loss coming against Carlos Alcaraz in the Beijing final. That’s a striking stat but only seven of these matches came this season with the Italian not competing on the surface since winning the Australian Open title as the result of a ban for a failed drugs test. Even with a potential lack of rhythm, this still seems like a fairly easy match. The Wimbledon champion skipped Canada and will come back fresh in Cincinnati with a big quality edge over Daniel Elahi Galan.
Prediction: Sinner in 2
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
