One of three all-seeded showdowns in Cincinnati on Thursday pits Pablo Carreno Busta against Hubert Hurkacz. In an all-unseeded contest, a red-hot John Isner is facing a rejuvenated Benoit Paire.
(9) Hubert Hurkacz vs. (7) Pablo Carreno Busta
Carreno Busta and Hurkacz will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers (first at the ATP level) when they clash in round three of the Western & Southern Open on Thursday. They previously faced each other at a 2015 Challenger event in Hurkacz’s native Poland, where Carreno Busta prevailed 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Fast forward six years and both guys are near the top of the sport–with Hurkacz just now making his move. The 24-year-old’s 2021 campaign is highlighted by a title at the Miami Masters, a semifinal run at Wimbledon, and a quarterfinal showing last week in Toronto. Hurkacz, who is up to a career-high ranking of No. 13 in the world, has remained in fine form with Cincinnati victories over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Andy Murray.
Playing a much different schedule, Carreno Busta’s summer has been even more productive. The 12th-ranked Spaniard went back to clay after Wimbledon and won the Hamburg title, then played the Tokyo Olympics and upset Novak Djokovic for the bronze medal. Carreno Busta understandably skipped Toronto, and following a first-round bye in Cincinnati disposed of Dominik Koepfer 6-4, 6-2. The No. 7 seed is on fire right now and is far more rested than Hurkacz, so this sets up nicely for him.
Pick: Carreno Busta in 3
John Isner vs. Benoit Paire
As usual, Isner is heating up in a big way during the North American hard-court summer. The 6’11” American reached the Los Cabos semifinals and then went on a nine-match winning streak that featured a sixth Atlanta title and a semifinal performance in Toronto. Getting right back in gear at the Cincinnati Masters, Isner has defeated both Cameron Norrie and Jannik Sinner in three sets. The 36-year-old is back up to No. 26 in the world and has locked up a top 24 seed at the U.S. Open.
Paire’s appearance in the third round is a bit hard to fathom, but he is finally starting to win some matches. The 50th-ranked Frenchman was a complete disaster after tennis returned from its Covid-19 hiatus in 2020 and he remained as such for the first six months of this season. Paire, however, has suddenly won multiple matches in three of his last six events and at least one match in five of his last six. So far in Cincinnati he has taken out Miomir Kecmanovic and Denis Shapovalov; like Isner, he has played a pair of three-setters. Even if Isner is a bit fatigued, he should be able to serve his way out of trouble against an opponent who has already overachieved this week.
Pick: Isner in 2
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I picked PCB in a tight three setter and Isner in standard score 76 76