Cincinnati R2 previews and predictions: Dimitrov vs. Lopez, Kyrgios vs. Dolgopolov

Grigor Dimitrov and Feliciano Lopez are set to square off in Cincinnati for the second straight year. A third-round spot will also be at stake when Nick Kyrgios goes up against Alexandr Dolgopolov.

(7) Grigor Dimitrov vs. Feliciano Lopez

Dimitrov and Lopez will be facing each other for the fifth time in their careers when they meet again in round two of the Western & Southern Open on Wednesday. The head-to-head series stands at two wins apiece, with Dimitrov having taken their only previous hard-court encounter via a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6) decision at this same Cincinnati event in 2016. All three of their other showdowns have come at Queen’s Club, including a couple of months ago when Lopez got the job done 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.

Whereas Dimitrov got a first-round bye as the No. 7 seed, Lopez did well to book a spot in this matchup. The 35-year-old Spaniard avenged a recent Montreal setback by beating Hyeon Chung 7-6(5), 6-1 on Monday. Still, Lopez is just 2-4 since capturing the Queen’s Club title prior to Wimbledon. Dimitrov’s form has been mediocre at best (2-2 on hard courts since falling to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon fourth round), but he generally performs well in Cincinnati and has advanced to at least the third round in three of his last four appearances–including the semifinals in 2016.

Pick: Dimitrov in 3

[polldaddy poll=9809851]

Nick Kyrgios vs. (Q) Alexandr Dolgopolov

A hip injury has derailed Kyrgios’ 2017 campaign and will almost certainly keep him out of the World Tour Finals, but he is starting to get back in business and show signs of the form that was on display during the first few months. The 22-year-old Australian lost to Kevin Anderson in round two of the French Open, did not win a single match on grass (0-2), and his losing streak hit four when he retired from his Washington, D.C. opener. Kyrgios, though, advanced two rounds in Montreal (lost to eventual champion Alexander Zverev) and destroyed David Goffin 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday in Cincinnati.

Up next for Kyrgios on Wednesday is a first-ever meeting with Dolgopolov. The 71st-ranked Ukrainian has also dealt with physical problems in 2017 and has retired from a whopping five matches. But he has not retired since Wimbledon (vs. eventual champion Roger Federer), a stretch that includes a runner-up performance in Bastad. Dolgopolov began his hard-court swing by scoring an impressive 6-4, 7-6(6) victory over Kevin Anderson on Tuesday. Even if the underdog is healthier and more confident than he has been in recent months, Kyrgios will likely have too much firepower in the fast conditions of Cincinnati.

Pick: Kyrgios in 2

[polldaddy poll=9809852]