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The ATP Tour strikes to Cincinnati for one more ATP Masters 1000 occasion: the Western & Southern Open. One yr in the past, the match was performed on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in New York — house of the US Open — because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However the world’s greatest gamers are again in Ohio.
The highest two seeds can be Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, each former Nitto ATP Finals champions. However there can be loads of hungry challengers making an attempt to maintain them from making deep runs within the draw. ATPTour.com seems to be at 10 issues to observe this week in Cincinnati.
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1) Medvedev Leads The Method: The Russian star will all the time have fond recollections of Cincinnati, the place he lifted his first Masters 1000 trophy two years in the past. Throughout that run, Medvedev defeated World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. This version, the 25-year-old is the highest seed and can attempt to enhance his 8-3 file on the Western & Southern Open.
Medvedev, who on Saturday superior to the ultimate in Toronto, will open his Cincinnati marketing campaign in opposition to one in all two American wild playing cards: Mackenzie McDonald or Brandon Nakashima.
2) Tsitsipas Shining: Tsitsipas is in good kind as evidenced by his run to the semi-finals in Toronto. The Greek will attempt to preserve his degree in Cincinnati, the place he’s the second seed. One week after turning 23, the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion will attempt to proceed solidifying his place in second within the FedEx ATP Race To Turin. A tough second-round foe awaits, as Tsitsipas might want to claw previous house favorite Sebastian Korda or Serbian Laslo Djere, who gained an ATP 500 title on the clay of Rio de Janeiro two years in the past.
3) Zverev Feeling Golden: Few gamers enter Cincinnati with as a lot confidence as Alexander Zverev, who can be competing for the primary time since profitable the singles gold medal on the Tokyo Olympics. The German has confirmed himself on the large stage on numerous events, profitable the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals, triumphing in Tokyo and claiming 4 Masters 1000 titles. Will Zverev be capable to add a fifth Masters 1000 trophy to his cupboard in Cincinnati?
The German is 0-6 on the Western & Southern Open, and can attempt to flip that round in opposition to South African Lloyd Harris — who defeated Rafael Nadal in Washington — or a qualifier.
4) #NextGenATP People: Korda and Nakashima are #NextGenATP People who’ve cracked the Prime 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings this yr. Korda broke by means of first with a collection of spectacular outcomes, together with his first ATP Tour last in Delray Seashore and his maiden tour-level triumph in Parma. Nakashima has caught fireplace in latest weeks, advancing to his first two ATP Tour championship matches in Los Cabos and Atlanta.
Will the duo make large runs in Cincinnati? They could possibly be harmful opponents for high seeds, as Nakashima may face high seed Medvedev within the second spherical and Korda may play second seed Tsitsipas within the second spherical.
5) Will Murray Make Magic? Probably the most spectacular Western & Southern Open resumé within the area belongs to wild card Andy Murray. A champion in 2008 and 2011 who additionally made the ultimate in 2016, the Scot will try to enhance his 33-13 file on the match. Murray final performed singles at Wimbledon, the place he misplaced to Denis Shapovalov within the third spherical. One yr on from upsetting Zverev in New York, Murray will play a qualifier in his opener. With a victory, he’ll conflict in opposition to ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
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6) Large-Serving People In Good Kind: Two of the largest servers on the ATP Tour, People Reilly Opelka and John Isner, carry loads of momentum onto house soil. Opelka upset Tsitsipas within the Toronto semi-finals to make his first Masters 1000 last. He challenged Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as an 18-year-old in Cincinnati in 2016, and can attempt to proceed the perfect season of his profession, wherein he has additionally made the Rome semi-finals.
Isner additionally superior to the final 4 in Canada earlier than falling quick in opposition to Medvedev. The veteran not too long ago lifted his sixth Atlanta trophy and is a 2013 Cincinnati finalist.
7) Berrettini Is Again: Large-hitting Matteo Berrettini is making his return for the primary time since reaching his maiden main last at Wimbledon. The Italian star has been unable to compete as a result of a thigh harm, however he’s prepared for his first motion of the North American hard-court swing. The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals competitor has gained 14 of his previous 16 matches, and he’ll attempt to proceed his spectacular yr in opposition to American Taylor Fritz or Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Berrettini, who has not but gained a match in Cincinnati (0-1), may play shut good friend Felix Auger-Aliassime within the third spherical.
8) First-Rounders To Watch: There can be fireworks from the primary spherical in Cincinnati, with loads of tantalising matchups. Former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov will play thirteenth seed Roberto Bautista Agut. Dimitrov leads their ATP Head2Head collection 3-1, however they haven’t met for the reason that 2018 Rolex Paris Masters. The Bulgarian is likely one of the most athletic gamers on Tour, and the Spaniard is as strong as they arrive, which ought to make for a enjoyable conflict of types.
Russian Aslan Karatsev, the breakthrough star of 2021, will face former World No. 3 and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic for the primary time. Diego Schwartzman, the tenth seed, will attempt to battle previous artful Briton Daniel Evans.
9) Mektic/Pavic Dominating Doubles: Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic have dominated doubles on the ATP Tour in 2021 with 9 titles, together with victories at Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics. They’re one of many final two groups remaining in Toronto, too, however a tough attract Cincinnati awaits. The Croatians may play Britons Evans and Neal Skupski for the fourth time this yr within the second spherical. They only met in Toronto, the place Mektic and Pavic saved a match level earlier than advancing 13-11 in a Match Tie-break. The second seeds are Spaniard Marcel Granollers and Argentine Horacio Zeballos.
10) Stars Align: Loads of singles stars can be in motion within the doubles draw. Jannik Sinner and Hubert Hurkacz, who clashed for the Miami singles title this yr, will face Evans and Skupski within the first spherical. Auger-Aliassime will compete with Marcus Daniell of New Zealand, and Russians Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev, who’ve made two Masters 1000 doubles finals collectively, will attempt to go one step additional. A wild card crew to observe is Canadian Shapovalov and American Jack Sock.
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