Cincinnati had been on course to be the first tournament since Wimbledon in 2017 to feature every member of the Big 4—Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. But that changed when Nadal withdrew in the wake of Sunday’s triumph in Toronto. Still, the field is loaded. Federer leads the way as the No. 2 seed, followed by Alexander Zverev, Juan Martin Del Potro, and defending champion Grigor Dimitrov.
Western & Southern Open
Where: Cincinnati, Ohio
Surface: Hard
Points: 1000
Prize money: $5,669,360
Top seed: Roger Federer
Defending champion: Grigor Dimitrov
Draw analysis: Dimitrov could use all the luck he can get right now, not only because he is enduring a relative slump but also because he has 1000 points to defend this week in Cincinnati. At first glance, Nadal’s exit from the top quarter of the bracket looks like a stroke of good fortune for the Bulgarian. But he would have to reach the quarterfinals for the world No. 1’s absence to become a factor, and that is easier said than done. Dimitrov will open with either Damir Dzumhur or Mischa Zverev and he could meet Djokovic as early as the third round. Milos Raonic is likely to be the first beneficiary of Nadal’s withdrawal, while the door could also be open for the winner of an intriguing first-rounder between Denis Shapovalov and Frances Tiafoe.
The rest of the top half features plenty of big hitters, as Zverev, Marin Cilic, John Isner, and Sam Querrey appear poised to slug it out for a semifinal spot. Isner and Querrey have to go head-to-head in the first round, with the winner possibly to meet Toronto semifinalist Karen Khachanov (who ousted Isner to reach the quarters this past week). Richard Gasquet, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Toronto quarterfinalist Robin Haase are other unseeded floaters to watch in this section.
At the bottom of the draw, Federer should coast through his opener against either Joao Sousa or Peter Gojowyczk before things could get interesting. The second-ranked Swiss is on a collision course with Murray for the third round and potential quarterfinal foes include Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori, and Stan Wawrinka. With Thiem struggling and Wawrinka still up-and-down during his comeback, Nishikori may be the best bet.
Del Potro’s third quarter of the bracket is perhaps the most wide open. Kevin Anderson is the favorite based on form, but he could be challenged not only by the Argentine but also by David Goffin, Nick Kyrgios, Borna Coric, or Cincinnati runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas. The 20-year-old Greek, who opens with Goffin, has to be gassed. Del Potro and Kyrgios are both physical question marks and Goffin is not at his best right now, so a real opportunity may await Coric.
First-round upset alert: Sam Querrey over (9) John Isner. These two good friends and big-serving Americans used to play each other with frequency, but they have not gone head-to-head since week one of the 2016 season. Querrey is leading the head-to-head series 5-2, including 1-0 in Cincinnati after prevailing 6-3, 7-6(3) in 2015 (also in the opening round). Isner is just 1-2 in three matches since triumphing—as usual—on the hard courts of Atlanta.
Hot: Alexander Zverev, Juan Martin Del Potro, Kevin Anderson, John Isner, Novak Djokovic, Frances Tiafoe, Mackenzie McDonald, Marco Cecchinato, Damir Dzumhur, Robin Haase, Karen Khachanov, Stefanos Tsitsipas
Cold: Grigor Dimitrov, Dominic Thiem, David Ferrer, David Goffin, Pablo Carreno Busta, Nick Kyrgios, Lucas Pouille, Hyeon Chung, Jack Sock, Andrey Rublev, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka
Quarterfinal predictions: Novak Djokovic over Kyle Edmund, Alexander Zverev over Marin Cilic, Borna Coric over Kevin Anderson, and Roger Federer over Kei Nishikori
Semifinals: Zverev over Djokovic and Federer over Coric
Final: Zverev over Federer
[polldaddy poll=9497189]
who ya got?
Djoko vs Delpo final with Djoko completing the career masters slam
QF: Djoko over Tiafoe
Zverev over Cilic
Delpo over Anderson (h2h,plus Anderson must be spent)
Federer over Nishikori
Semis: Zverev over Djoko,
Federer over Delpo
Final :Zverev over Federer
Djokovic over Cilic
Federer over Anderson
Federer over Djokovic
#MaybePerhapsHerbert
#DefinitleyNotRafa
Oh and definitely not Zverev. And no WAY does Federer lose in a Cincy final ESPECIALLY against Zverev.
That’s THE worst prediction in the modern era.
(Wonder what Scoot thinks. He’s been so quiet lately. Pretty sure he’d pick the ex-GOAT while Rafa is resting.)
Don’t fancy too much Feds chances of even getting to the final ,he’s 37 and there’s Anderson and Delpo in his draw.
since when has 37 suddenly been the main issue?
He just won Australia and made 5 finals of last 6 Masters 1000 events with two titles all o hard court. And Cincy plays fast.
Yeah, but he was under 37 then!
He’s lost a few more matches lately he usually would win…sign of lack of concentration, you telling me age isn’t a factor at this level? Delpo and Anderson are younger and stronger .
Its an issue for most normal people, maybe not for GOAT!
Zverev??? No way!!! Watching him lose to Tsitsipas proves he is definitely not up to the task! Even the mental midget Cilic has the upper hand over Zverev! Nole lost in Toronto simply because he had a bad day in the office and he should do way better in Cincy! It’s Fed over Nole in the final if Fed is in the mood…otherwise whoever else facing Nole, Nole for the title…
Glad Rafa isn’t playing! I really need some sleep 😴
With you on that one Natasho – I’m too long in the tooth these days to cope with the sleep deprivation of the the American swing 🙁
What is up with defending champ Dimitrov. He has really gone off the boil. I mean I have never sen anyone fizzle away so quickly.
Do you think Djoker can move in top8, I think it would be good for everyone in USO. Noone in top8 wants to play the round of 16 with Djoker.
Dimi goes off the boil on a regular basis. He’ll go back on at some point but no one knows when.
Quarterfinals: Djokovic over Shapovalov, Zverev over Cilic, Kyrgios over Anderson, Federer over Wawrinka.
SF: Djokovic over Zverev, Federer over Kyrgios
F: Federer over Djokovic
Am thinking that Jack Sock won’t “have fun tonite.”
#OneHitWonderMusicReferences
QF:
Djoker over Raonic
Cilic over Zverev
Del Potro over Anderson
Federer over Wawrinka
SF:
Djoker over Cilic
Fed over Del Po
Final: Fed over Nole
Steve Tignor had predicted a Cilic vs Delpo final. I think that may happen, as I feel Djoko is/was subpar in his first match here. Delpo, if he’s not rusty, will most likely have to beat Anderson and then Fed to reach a final, a tough ask, more so than Cilic beating Djoko to reach the final.
Very possible. Only problem for Del Po is the left wrist that kept him out of Toronto. I actually feel it is a bit risky of me to put him going as far as I had him, but I couldn’t have him losing to Anderson who he has never lost to in six or seven meetings. If Stan heats up, he could be very dangerous. But I like Roger’s chance at this particular event on these particular courts.
In five career Cincy finals, Nole has never even won a single set losing three times to Federer and twice to Murray.
The last three losses in a final since 2011 happened after he’d made the final in Canada.
At least this time around, he should be well rested.
Regardless, I still think that Federer will have his number should Nole get that far as predicted.
Djoko doesn’t seem to play well so far on HCs, I’ve doubts he can go far here at Cincy when courts are quick. Players like Shapo, Raonic and Cilic may fancy their chances against him with their big serves.
I find Fed’s half of the draw doesn’t look too difficult for Fed, unless players like L Mayer (who pushed Fed to the limit at Shanghai one year), Anderson or Delpo play lights out tennis to beat him, possible but unlikely. Fed is the best quick court player among the current players.
Too early to say IMO re Djoko on hc. I don’t think he’s played so bad.
Rafa started poorly in Montreal.
I still see Fed over Nole in the final as likely as anything else.
Waaay more likely than Ricky’s picks.
#DefinitelyNotZverev
Zverev is down a break to Haase in the final set i see!
Amy! I was just about to say, “Ricky, your pick is down a break in the third!”
But now it appears that he broke back and they’re on serve again! If Zverev ends up coming through this one, it could give him a boost of confidence from coming back like that. I may be wrong, but I feel like when Zverev has won Masters titles, he has sometimes had turning points during the tournament where survived a really tight match and was subsequently on fire in the rest of his matches.
First things first- he’s gotta survive Haase! Haase is a tricky opponent on a fast court like Cinci. It will be a good win for him if he can beat Zverev, especially having been up a break and then lost the break.
Haase appears to have broken again Kevin!☺
Omg! Zverev double faulted to allow Haase to serve for the match!! Big time choke from Sascha! Oh man… If Haase fails to serve this out….
Synchronised posting going on here!!
Haase wins!
Nole loses first set to mannarino!
I said last week that I expected Nole to amass a lot of points in the hc masters between now and the wtf. Not sure what is going on now..
So Delpo will stay at #3! Good!
I hope Delpo is on the opposite side of the draw to rafa at the uso.
Given that he beat Federer in NY last year, Delpo will be in Rafas half this year along with Djoko.
Zverev in this form will be in Federers half.
#NID
Zverev OUT.
As I said, picking Zverev over Federer in the final was the worst pick in the Modern Era (except for the Weak Era when anyone picked against Federer off clay).
Congrats to me.
#DefinitelyNotNole
You’re forgetting ‘anyone but rafa’ from scoot ‘s greatest mishits….
Well that was more a pick to lose troll comment than a pick to win.
I won’t forget that for a while.
#GlorifiedBerdych
I think once he finds the right coach to get his mental game in order, he can do great things.
He has more raw talent than Berdych IMO.
But mentally, he needs to mature to say the least.
Doubt I’ll ever be much of a fan of his though.
Just watched Zverev losing to Haase and yeah ,Im not much of a fan anymore ,until he matures and stops the gamesmanship. Picking him to beat Fed in the final was maybe a bit of reverse jinxing,but I forgot he’s never even won a match in Cinci.
Shhh Big Al but just between you and me, don’t tell anybody but I do that all the time (reference my Cincy pick).
Careful though, it can backfire .Didn’t work for me in Toronto.
This week in Cincy when asked about possible changes in tennis:
Federer says:
“I would add more best of five sets matches in finals. In Masters 1000 we have more opportunities to have five-set matches, especially at the World Finals. On the ATP Tour we don’t have any five-set matches. I know it’s for player protection, but I feel it’s an opportunity wasted.”
Djokovic: says:
“I actually heard him speak about it, he said best of five he would make it. I am against that. I would have even Grand Slams best of three. This new generation of tennis fans and Millenials, they don’t have a great attention span and they want things to happen very quickly. So for the players as well and to attract more people and viewers of a younger audience we have to keep tennis matches dynamic and shorter.”
“And no shot cl0ck. It is enough time, it is great, but I don’t like it.”
(HawkTips: On TennGrand, Ricky has a time problem so one has to spell cl0ck with a zero.)
If they’re going to go five sets, they should maybe have shorter sets, like in the nextgen final
Lemme guess, Zverev thinks Haase played a terrible match…
#Reusable
#HowManyTimes???
As long as the ATP runs Masters 1000’s in back to back weeks I can’t see having 5 set finals there again. Five sets at the WTF would be nice and give it some credibility as a serious tournament rather than an exhibition but I really think too many of the guys are pretty beat up by the end of the year.
How many 3 set classics can you think of offhand? It’s the 5 setters that can be epic.
Not too many but this one comes to mind…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO9WlCNLK7o
2013 Montreal semi was indeed a classic. As was the 2011 Miami Final. There’s been a lot of them.
I’m not suggesting that this is what you mean to say at all, Ramara, but it feels weird to say that 3-setters can’t be classics because that would mean that classic women’s matches don’t exist… which obviously is not true. 2005 Wimbledon women’s Final is one probably one of my favorite matches ever.
I know what you mean, though- when it comes to classic men’s matches, we always point to the best-of-5 ones! 🙂
Classic women’s matches do exist, of course. But it’s always bothered me that the women’s majors do not differ from their regular tournament play except they get a day of rest between most of their matches in the majors, which ought to make them easier. Or maybe it takes fitness out of the equation to some extent?
Of course there have been great 3 set men’s matches. I can name some offhand, too. But I’d really hate to lose the epic 5 setters!
Some great memories of that match!
🤗
Ricky sucessfully predicted that Fed would lose the final. 🙂
So did I
great minds think alike