Cincinnati R1 previews and predictions: Rune vs. Berrettini, Tsitsipas vs. Struff

First-round lineups at Masters 1000 events rarely disappoint, and Cincinnati in 2024 is no exception. Wednesday will see Holger Rune run into Matteo Berrettini, while Stefanos Tsitsipas meets familiar foe Jan-Lennard Struff.

(15) Holger Rune vs. (WC) Matteo Berrettini

Berrettini is finally armed with a clean bill of health and it has paid off in the form of a fantastic summer. However, it won’t be enough for him to secure a seed at the U.S. Open unless he makes a deep run at the Western & Southern Open. The 28-year-old Italian finds himself at No. 42 in the world after falling as low as No. 154 in March. Berrettini has captured titles in Marrakech, Gstaad, and Kitzbuhel in addition to a runner-up performance in Stuttgart. He storms into Cincinnati on a 10-match winning streak and is also well rested, having not played either the Olympics or Montreal Masters.

Up first for Berrettini as opening-round action wraps up on Wednesday is a third encounter with Rune. They have split their two previous meetings; Berrettini prevailed 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 at the 2022 Indian Wells Masters before Rune advanced via second-set retirement while leading 6-0, 1-0 last year in Acapulco. The 16th-ranked Dane has not reached a semifinal since Munich in mid-April and he has not defeated an opponent ranked better than 41st since Monte-Carlo a week before Munich. This is a great opportunity for Berrettini to continue his red-hot form.

Pick: Berrettini in 2

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Jan-Lennard Struff vs. (9) Stefanos Tsitsipas

Tsitsipas vs. Struff is low key one of the most extensive rivalries currently going in tennis and it will add another chapter on Wednesday in Cincinnati. They have faced each other a whopping nine times, with Tsitsipas leading the head-to-head series 5-4 (it is tied 4-4 at the ATP level). Competitiveness has continued in 2024; Tsitsipas got the job done 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-4 on the red clay of Rome before Struff cruised 6-4, 6-4 on the grass of Halle.

It has been a tumultuous summer for Tsitsipas, who was hopeless on grass, squandered a huge second-set lead over Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the Olympics, and lost to Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4 in the Montreal first round. The 11th-ranked Greek just parted ways with his dad as his coach, too. Meanwhile, Struff has gone an incredible 12 consecutive tournaments without losing his opening match. The 36th-ranked German has enjoyed plenty of success against Tsitsipas in the past and that has every reason to continue.

Pick: Struff in 3

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