The new and improved ATP Cincinnati Open is upon us with the venue doubling in size compared to last year. The tournament also lasts 12 days now with almost all top-half first-round matches coming up on Thursday. 18-year-old star Joao Fonseca is looking to bounce back from a disappointing Toronto performance and will face Bu Yunchaokete. Who do you think will come out on top?
ATP Cincinnati Day 1 Predictions
Roman Safiullin vs Alejandro Tabilo
Head-to-head: Safiullin 1-0
It’s been a messy season for Alejandro Tabilo, and that’s not entirely his fault with fitness issues troubling him left and right. He will play for the first time since making the semifinals of the Prostejov Challenger in early June and is 2-5 on hard courts this year with a win each at Indian Wells and Miami. Considering that you probably should be treating Roman Safiullin as the favorite here, even if the Russian is not doing all that hot either. But at least he got a couple of matches under his belt in Toronto.
Prediction: Safiullin in 3
Jordan Thompson vs Adrian Mannarino
Head-to-head: Mannarino 5-4
This has been a fun rivalry over the years, especially their grass ATP 250 classics in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (three times) and Newport (twice). It seems like now things have changed from where they were at the end of last season when Jordan Thompson defeated Adrian Mannarino at the ATP 1000 in Paris. The Australian has been struggling with injuries and hasn’t played since Wimbledon, while Mannarino is suddenly in vintage form again. He looked strong in qualifying and might extend his head-to-head lead here.
Prediction: Mannarino in 3
Joao Fonseca vs Yunchaokete Bu
Head-to-head: Fonseca 1-0
Joao Fonseca continues to develop at a very strong pace, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be experiencing setbacks. That opening round loss to Tristan Schoolkate in Toronto was a clear example of that and the Brazilian’s returning on a quick hard court was a bit of an abomination. That will have to be fixed in the near future, especially when he adds a solid block return to his skillset. Cincinnati conditions won’t be that good for Fonseca either, but Bu Yunchaokete probably won’t blow him off the court like Tristan Schoolkate did.
Prediction: Fonseca in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui/The Desert Sun/USAToday Sports
