Second-round actions begin on Day 3 at the ATP Cincinnati Open alongside the remaining first-round matches. The day is jam-packed with 14 ATP matches to be played. Matteo Berrettini starts his hard-court swing after winning back-to-back titles on clay. As always, we here at LWOT will offer our predictions for every match on the slate for day 3. But who will advance to the next round?
ATP Cincinnati Day 3 Predictions
Tomas Machac vs Max Purcell
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Tomas Machac did not skip the National Bank Open in Montreal and looked fatigued from the Olympics. The early loss meant he had more time to rest and prepare for the Cincinnati Open, where he is making his debut. Machac’s aggressive game is perfectly suited for these fast conditions and he will look to get off to a good start. Max Purcell has been struggling since reaching the final in Eastbourne. He has lost his last three matches but two of them were extremely close. Purcell is a tricky player but Machac has the edge.
Prediction: Machac in 2
Jack Draper vs Jaume Munar
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Jack Draper has had a good season and he would like to be consistent for the remainder of the year. He lost in the opening round in Montreal but has an easier first-round match here at the Cincinnati Open. Jaume Munar did extremely well to qualify for the main draw, beating two decent players en route. However, he has lost four consecutive matches at the tour level. Three of those matches were on his favoured clay courts. I can’t see him posing much threat in these fast conditions.
Prediction: Draper in 2
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Aleksandar Kovacevic
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Felix Auger-Aliassime was tired to play in Montreal but he did because of his home event. He lost in the first round, but he shouldn’t mind too much and will seek to continue his good form at the Cincinnati Open. His game suits perfectly on fast surfaces and he has a good opening round to get into a rhythm. Aleksandar Kovacevic has managed to qualify for his first main draw appearance in Cincinnati. Kovacevic smashed 29 aces in his two qualifying rounds combined, and he’ll need to maintain that level of serving to have any chance of winning this match.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
Holger Rune vs Matteo Berrettini
Head-to-Head: Rune 1-1 Berrettini
Holger Rune has surprisingly never won a match at the Cincinnati Open. Consistency has been a problem with Rune this season with just one quarterfinal in his last seven tournaments. He has a tough first-round match here against an in-form player. Matteo Berrettini has won ten consecutive matches and appears to have returned to his best level. However, hard courts have not been his most effective surface. Berrettini has a 2-5 win-loss record in Cincinnati. His backhand is more vulnerable on these fast courts and Rune will look to pepper that. However, Berrettini has developed a good slice over the years and his big serve will do a lot of damage. Despite a slight weakness on this surface, I trust the Italian player to be more solid.
Prediction: Berrettini in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
