Toronto champion Daniil Medvedev will try to keep his momentum going when he gets started in Cincinnati against Mackenzie McDonald on Wednesday. Second-round action also includes Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Karen Khachanov.
(1) Daniil Medvedev vs. (WC) Mackenzie McDonald
Medvedev triumphed last week at the National Bank Open for his fourth Masters 1000 title. The second-ranked Russian also won the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals and he has a pair of Grand Slam runner-up performances to his credit. Quite simply, Medvedev thrives on the big stage. The 25-year-old is also no stranger to success at the Western & Southern Open, having lifted the trophy in 2019.
Fresh off his win in Toronto, Medvedev will begin his bid for more Cincinnati success when he faces McDonald during second-round action on Wednesday. This is a nightmare matchup for McDonald, who is 0-4 in the head-to-head series and 0-9 in total sets. Only one set has required a tiebreaker. The good news for the 64th-ranked American is that he recently advanced to the Washington, D.C. final and is coming off a 7-5, 6-2 defeat of Brandon Nakashima on Monday. Still, none of that would indicate that he is suddenly ready to challenge Medvedev.
Pick: Medvedev in 2
Karen Khachanov vs. (12) Felix Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime and Khachanov will be squaring off for the second time in their careers on Wednesday. Their only previous meeting came two years ago on the hard courts of Montreal, where Khachanov prevailed 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-3. Auger-Aliassime doesn’t have home-court advantage this time around–nor does he have much confidence. The world No. 17 was 1-4 in his last five matches heading into Cincinnati, but he at least managed to beat Marton Fucsovics in straight sets on Monday.
Fucsovics had not played since Wimbledon, so Khachanov will be a much tougher opponent. The 30th-ranked Russian won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, reached round three of the Toronto Masters, and then routed Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-4 in his Cincinnati opener. Khachanov is in superior form, and his heavy forehand directed at Auger-Aliassime’s forehand should create a lot of errors off the Canadian’s racket.
Pick: Khachanov in 3
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Med in 2; KK in 2.