Cincinnati was one of the rare ATP events where Jannik Sinner didn’t go deep last year and the World No. 1 has some points to gain this week. He started his campaign by straight-setting Alex Michelsen and will now take on Jordan Thompson on Friday. Who do you think will come out on top?
ATP Cincinnati Day 5 Predictions
Brandon Nakashima vs Andrey Rublev
Head-to-head: Rublev 2-1
Brandon Nakashima posted a win over Andrey Rublev in Barcelona this year, becoming part of this new trend we have with the Russian. He lost his usual consistency in dispatching lower-ranked opponents, but is still doing well thanks to two ATP 1000 finals. On the way in Montreal last week he defeated Nakashima quite comfortably and should be the favorite to do it again. The American was already playing well then with the win over Tommy Paul, but Rublev still routed him 6-2 6-2.
Prediction: Rublev in 2
Ben Shelton vs Fabian Marozsan
Head-to-head: Shelton 2-0
Ben Shelton is facing a few issues while trying to become a more regular face deep into big events right now, most importantly his return game being very low-margin and how many lottery matches he gets into. This one won’t be easy against Fabian Marozsan, who’s got a great ATP 1000 record and a deadly game on his day. The Hungarian can take time away on a court like this and maybe this time the fine margins end up on his side unlike in their previous meetings.
Prediction: Marozsan in 3
Frances Tiafoe vs Jiri Lehecka
Head-to-head: Tiafoe 1-0
The back injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Jiri Lehecka, snapping his Madrid run in the semifinals and keeping him out of all the huge events in the stacked summer calendar this year (two Slams and the Olympics). But the Czech is back with a bang in Cincinnati and took out Daniil Medvedev in the second round. If he doesn’t run out of steam given it’s his first event back (no pun intended), he might also prove that leap he’s made this year against Frances Tiafoe and his mediocre recent form.
Prediction: Lehecka in 3
Jannik Sinner vs Jordan Thompson
Head-to-head: First meeting
Jannik Sinner is still the most dominant player of the season, but things are close now in the ATP Race with Carlos Alcaraz winning the last two Grand Slam events. It seems like the Italian hasn’t fully sorted out his physical issues and he’s been struggling fitness-wise in pretty much every loss he’s taken this year (including last week). That doesn’t mean it’s been easy to take him down and it would take a truly astonishing Jordan Thompson performance for the Australian to have a shot.
Prediction: Sinner in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
