The ATP Cincinnati Open is the second big tournament in the North American hard-court swing after Montreal. With players who skipped Montreal returning to action, the draw is stacked as players aim to fine-tune their game ahead of the US Open. American No. 1 Taylor Fritz will be in action alongside many exciting players. As always, we here at LWOT will offer our predictions for every match on the slate for Day 2. But who will advance?
ATP Cincinnati Day 2 Predictions
Arthur Fils vs Brandon Holt
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Arthur Fils has halved his rankings since his last year’s Cincinnati Open appearance as a qualifier. The Frenchman has started showing his potential in the last two months, winning his biggest title in Hamburg. Fils has the game to excel on any surface, and he would be kept to make his hard-court breakthrough. Brandon Holt got the wild card to play qualifiers, and he made the most of it. Holt has just two wins on the main tour but has played on big stages before, winning a round each at the US Open and Australian Open. The win over Dusan Lajovic in qualifying was big, but Fils is a level above him when he is in the zone.
Prediction: Fils in 2
Yoshihito Nishioka vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-Head: Nishioka 1-2 Kecmanovic
After failing to qualify in Montreal, Yoshihito Nishioka did not lose a set here and looks set for another impressive run. This is the time of year he plays his best tennis, and he showed that by winning the title in Atlanta. He gives his all in every point, and that’s how he builds his confidence. It’s tough to expect what level Miomir Kecamnovic will bring to his matches these days. He has the potential but hasn’t been able to live up to it this year. Nishioka is the kind of player who will frustrate the Serb and eventually make him falter.
Prediction: Nishioka in 3
Lorenzo Musetti vs Nicolas Jarry
Head-to-Head: Musetti 0-1 Jarry
Lorenzo Musetti is returning from a well-deserved rest after winning the Bronze Medal at the Paris Olympics. He has been in the form of his life in the last two months and will look to ride the momentum. Transitioning from clay to hard won’t be easy, but he has a good opening match against an out-of-form player. Nicolas Jarry has completely lost track of his season since his French Open loss. Injuries have played a big part in that, and he looks a bit lost on court. Jarry has never been particularly strong on hard courts, which has a significant impact on his movement. Musetti is a great returner against big servers and will win this once he finds his feet.
Prediction: Musetti in 3
Taylor Fritz vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-Head: Fritz 2-0 Nakashima
It seemed like Montreal came too early for Fritz after his long stay at the Paris Olympics. He looked erratic against Sebastian Korda but will be better prepared for this match. Fritz has been in great form this year, and now that he is back on his beloved hard courts, he can push for more. Brandon Nakashima has been given a wild card to try to win his first match at the Cincinnati Open. His confidence will be high after beating Tommy Paul in Montreal, but can he beat the other part of the duo? It will be a close match, but I trust Fritz’s ability to be more under pressure to find the first serve.
Prediction: Fritz in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
