Cincinnati R3 previews and predictions: Alcaraz vs. Paul, Medvedev vs. Zverev

Carlos Alcaraz will get another shot at Tommy Paul when they meet again on Thursday, this time at the Cincinnati Masters. Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev are also aiming for a place in the quarterfinals.

(1) Carlos Alcaraz vs. (14) Tommy Paul

The rematch is on!

Paul’s 2-1 head-to-head record against Alcaraz will be put to the test when they face each other for the second time in as many weeks–really just a few days, in fact, following the American’s 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory in the Toronto quarterfinals. That result marked the second straight year in which Paul took down Alcaraz in Canada, having previously prevailed 6-7(4), 7-6(7), 6-3 in Montreal. The Spaniard’s lone win came earlier this season in Miami, where he cruised 6-4, 6-4.

With Paul playing great tennis and having conserved energy following his run to the Toronto semis by kicking off his Western & Southern Open campaign with straight-set defeats of Miomir Kecmanovic and Ugo Humbert, another good one should be in the cards. The world No. 13 once again has a real chance, as Alcaraz did not play well at any point in Toronto and also struggled for much of the way in his 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win over Jordan Thompson on Tuesday night in Cincinnati. At the same time, that means the world No. 1 will be motivated for more matches in hopes of finding his game in time for the U.S. Open. Alcaraz should be able to get revenge, but it almost certainly won’t be easy.

Pick: Alcaraz in 3

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(16) Alexander Zverev vs. (3) Daniil Medvedev

Alcaraz vs. Paul isn’t the only blockbuster matchup between familiar foes on the third-round schedule in Cincinnati. This rivalry between Medvedev and Zverev, however, is far more extensive and is much less friendly in nature. They aren’t exactly enemies like Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, but there won’t be any love lost on Thursday.

Speaking of losing, Zverev has done a lot of it in this matchup. The 17th-ranked German once led the head-to-head series 4-0 and 5-1, but he has lost eight of their last nine encounters. That includes three setbacks already this season–one on hard courts in Indian Wells and two on clay. There is no reason to think anything will change in Cincinnati, where Medvedev has to be motivated following an early exit in Toronto and looked good during a 6-3, 6-2 rout of Lorenzo Musetti on Wednesday. The world No. 3’s domination of this matchup should continue.

Pick: Medvedev in 2

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