15 men’s singles matches have been scheduled for Day 1 of main draw action at the 2025 ATP Cincinnati Open. Sebastian Baez and David Goffin will compete in a former Top 20 duel with the Belgian finishing runner-up at this event in 2019. The courts have changed since, but it’s still a pretty quick hard-court that should be more to his liking. Can he recapture the magic? Who do you think will prevail?
ATP Cincinnati Day 1 Predictions
Pedro Martinez vs Nicolas Jarry
Head-to-head: 1-1
Nicolas Jarry’s ranking plummeted after he didn’t defend his ATP 1000 Rome final in May, but the Chilean swiftly returned to Top 100 (or thereabouts) after a wonderful run at Wimbledon. It’s time to follow that up as he’s only played one match since, losing to Botic van de Zandschulp in Kitzbuhel. First appearance on hard courts since January, high-risk game – there are reasons to think Jarry might not have to play his best here. But Pedro Martinez is also wildly out of form recently.
Prediction: Jarry in 2
Yoshihito Nishioka vs Terence Atmane
Head-to-head: Nishioka 2-0
Yoshihito Nishioka couldn’t grab a win for five months this year, trying to play through his health issues and struggling to finish matches in good physical shape. But the Japanese might be turning the corner finally with decent performances in Toronto and Washington. His previous matches against Terence Atmane weren’t easy, even if he ended up the victor both times. But in the all-lefty duel he is far less hot-headed and plays a smarter game, which makes him the favorite again.
Prediction: Nishioka in 3
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs Coleman Wong
Head-to-head: First meeting
Coleman Wong has stagnated at that bottom Top 200 level recently and maybe qualifying here could be the start of something. The Hong Kong native has won at the ATP 1000 stage before, defeating Ben Shelton en route to the Miami third round earlier this year. Matches with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard tend to be all about fine margins and a few points here or there. Wong will have his chances, but the World No. 43 is a tiny favorite to make these key moments go his way.
Prediction: Mpetshi Perricard in 3
Sebastian Baez vs David Goffin
Head-to-head: Goffin 1-0
Everybody was waiting to see if Sebastian Baez would take his South American clay-court form to Europe this year and despite a promising start (Bucharest final), the Argentinian has suffered a complete collapse since. Confidence was at an all-time low as he lost in the opening round of all the big events on the dirt and then didn’t do well during the post-Wimbledon swing anyway. Good results can often come unexpectedly, but it’s tough to back him against David Goffin right now.
Prediction: Goffin in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
