Cincinnati R2 previews and predictions: Kyrgios vs. Coric, Del Potro vs. Chung

An intriguing second-rounder between Nick Kyrgios and Borna Coric is part of the Wednesday schedule in Cincinnati. The winner will go up against either Juan Martin Del Potro or Hyeon Chung on Thursday.

(15) Nick Kyrgios vs. Borna Coric

Kyrgios and Coric will be squaring off for the third time in their careers and for the first time in exactly two years when they clash in round two of the Western & Southern Open on Wednesday. They most recently faced each other in the same round of this same event in 2016, when Coric prevailed 7-6(2), 4-6, 7-6(6). Kyrgios had previously defeated the Croat 6-4, 6-4 a couple of months beforehand on the red clay of Estoril.

Third-set tiebreakers seem to be the norm for Kyrgios in Cincinnati, as he is coming off a 6-7(2), 7-5, 7-6(9) thriller against Denis Kudla on Tuesday afternoon in which the 23-year-old Aussie saved one match point with a second-serve ace hit just about as hard as he could at 7-8 in the decider. It marked only Kyrgios’ second win in his third tournament since Wimbledon. Coric advanced by avenging a loss at the All-England Club, taking care of Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 6-3. The 21-year-old is a stellar 26-13 for his 2018 campaign, which is highlighted by a title on the grass of Halle (upset Roger Federer in the final). Although this matchup looks good on paper, Kyrgios is less than 100 percent physically–and mentally, too–and he will not like the number of balls a player of Coric’s defensive ability will put send back in his direction.

Pick: Coric in 2

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Hyeon Chung vs. (4) Juan Martin Del Potro

Del Potro registers at a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world heading into Cincinnati, but he is a question mark nonetheless. The 29-year-old Argentine finished runner-up in Los Cabos and then pulled out of Toronto, citing his recurring left-wrist issues. It may very well have been a precautionary move, in which case he should be well-rested and poised for a strong Cincinnati run. When healthy, Del Potro has obviously been one of the best players in the world this season. The 2009 U.S. Open champion triumphed in Indian Wells right after capturing the Acapulco title and he reached the French Open semifinals prior to a quarterfinal showing at Wimbledon.

Up first for Del Potro on Wednesday is Chung, whom he has never faced. Chung knows a thing or two about injuries, himself, and his 2018 campaign has been derailed following a scorching-hot first three months. The 25th-ranked South Korean has won only five total matches since leaving the spring hard-court swing, missing both the French Open and Wimbledon due to an ankle problem. Chung, who has also been plagued by a back injury, overcame Jack Sock 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday in Cincinnati. But Sock was dealing with a back issue of his own and hardly moved in the last two sets, perhaps otherwise on course to beat an out-of-form Chung. Anything close to Del Potro’s best should be more than enough to cruise through this one.

Pick: Del Potro in 2

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