The ATP Tour has headed south for the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Masters 1000 event will welcome a 56-man draw and some of the best players in the world to it’s grounds including every single player currently ranked inside the world’s top 20. Day 2 in Cincinnati has 10 matches on the docket including a blockbuster round 1 encounter with Felix Auger-Alliasime and Matteo Berretini. We here at LWOT have all the previews and predictions for that match and all others happening on the grounds of Cincinnati. But who will advance?
ATP Cincinnati Day 2 Predictions
John Isner vs Jordan Thomson
Head-to-Head: Isner 3-1 Thomson
38-year-old John Isner is back in the main draw of the Western & Southern Open for the 16th time. Isner, who is currently ranked No. 111 in the world, received a wild card entry into the event. He will take on qualifier Jordan Thomson in the first round. Thomson has had an up-and-down season and has struggled against big servers like Isner in the past. That said, Isner has won just four matches since mid-February. It is really unknown how well he will perform on Monday. I expect a match filled with many ebbs and flows but give the slight edge to the American. His serve will be the difference maker in a match that would likely feature a tiebreak or two.
Prediction: Isner in 3
Stan Wawrinka vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-Head: Wawrinka 1-0 Nakashima
We have a Round 1 battle between two wild cards when Stan Wawrinka squares off against the American Brandon Nakashima. Wawrinka won their only previous meeting 6-4 5-7 6-4 last year in Basel. The formal world No. 3 comes into this match off the back of a final appearance in Umag, his first at the ATP level since October 2019. When playing with form and confidence the 38-year-old Swiss is a force to be reckoned with and Brandon Nakashima’s level is nowhere near what it was when he went on a tear through North American events in his first few seasons on the main tour.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 2
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Felix Auger-Alliasime vs Matteo Berretini
Head-to-Head: Berretini 4-1 Auger-Alliasime
Felix Auger-Alliasime’s woes on court look set to continue has he was unable to pick up a win in his home tournament in Toronto, losing in straight sets to Max Pucell in the first round. Berretini on the other hand will look to build back his confidence after a some positive results at Wimbledon last month. With the solid lead in the head-to-head and the force behind his serve, expect Berretini to run away with this one against a player lacking in confidence.
Prediction: Berretini in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
