Play continues on Day 2 of the ATP Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, as we get blockbuster matches all over the grounds. As always, we here predict all the matches. In addition to this article, we also have three more on the day. One features Andy Murray vs Stan Wawrinka, the second headlines Denis Shapovalov vs Grigor Dimitrov, and the third features Matteo Berrettini vs Frances Tiafoe. Who do you think will win?
ATP Cincinnati Day 2 Predictions
John Isner vs Benjamin Bonzi
Head-to-head: Isner 1-0
John Isner is not having a great season, and he has recently fallen precipitously in the rankings, far enough to take him a couple spots past Bonzi at #48. He has struggled on hard court this year, with only a 7-9 record, despite a career with eleven titles on the surface. But age is catching up with him, and it makes this match a very difficult call. The H2H win was on grass, and there is not much to separate the two. Bonzi has not been playing well recently at all, and that combined with Isner’s recent victory makes me give the American the edge.
Prediction: Isner in 3
Marin Cilic vs Jaume Munar
Head-to-head: Cilic 1-0
Cilic took some time off and is getting back into the swing of hard court, where he holds fifteen titles and a high winning percentage. He also holds a Cincinnati title from 2016. This will likely be too much for Jaume Munar, whose winning percentage on hard court is only half that of the Croatian.
Prediction: Cilic in 2
Borna Coric vs Lorenzo Musetti
Head-to-head: first meeting
Borna Coric is still trying to regain a foothold on the tour after a long injury layoff, and has been limited to twelve matches on the tour this year. Musetti is more of a clay courter, and won a clay title in Hamburg recently, and he can be streaky. I don’t have much confidence picking Musetti on hard court, but Coric has not yet reestablished himself as a viable force on the ATP Tour. The Italian should take it in two, though I feel a little shaky in putting confidence in him to get it done in straight sets.
Prediction: Musetti in 2
Sebastian Korda vs Karen Khachanov
Head-to-head: Khachanov 1-0
This match is very difficult to call. Both players are playing similarly overall this year and on hard court, and have a similar win percentage on the surface. Korda recently made the quarterfinals of Washington, but Khachanov has never lost in the first round in Cincinnati in five trips. Khachanov has the one H2H, although it was on grass, but Korda will have home court advantage here. Korda has completely stalled in the rankings this last year, after a promising rise, and its hard to bet on him, but Khachanov is not filling me with confidence. Let’s say the crowd pushes the American over the line.
Prediction: Korda in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
