First-round competition at the Cincinnati Masters wraps up on Friday, with Grigor Dimitrov going up against Sebastian Baez. An all-Dutch showdown features Tallon Griekspoor and Botic van de Zandschulp.
Sebastian Baez vs. (WC) Grigor Dimitrov
It has been a struggle for Dimitrov ever since he was infamously forced to retire from a 2025 Wimbledon fourth-round match against Jannik Sinner while leading two sets to love. The 35-year-old Bulgarian has never returned to his true self on the tennis court, although he did show signs of life at the All-England Club earlier this summer with another fourth-round performance — ousting Matteo Berrettini and Jakub Mensik along the way. Unfortunately for Dimitrov, he was forced to withdraw from Los Cabos last month and did not play the Montreal Masters.
Up first for the world No. 137 at the Cincinnati Open on Friday afternoon is Baez, whom he has never faced. Baez has cooled off since a red-hot start to the season, but he is still a respectable 22-18 for his 2026 campaign and comes in at 48th in the rankings. Although the Argentine is definitely at his best on clay, he has sprinkled in decent hard-court results throughout his career. Unless Dimitrov is somehow 100 percent physically, Baez should be able to wear down the veteran.
Pick: Baez in 3
Botic van de Zandschulp vs. Tallon Griekspoor
Griekspoor and Van de Zandschulp will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers on Friday. The head-to-head series between these two Dutchmen stands at 4-2 overall (3-1 on the main tour) in favor of Griekspoor, who most recently got the job done 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-4 on the grass courts of ‘s-Hertogenbosch a couple of months ago.
Unfortunately for Griekspoor, this year has been a borderline disaster — with his record a measly 12-16. The world No. 69 started to get on track by advancing three rounds in Montreal, but he once again struggled physically during a ridiculous 6-3, 6-1 loss to Daniel Merida. Van de Zandschulp also played well in Montreal, beating Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Daniil Medvedev, and Hubert Hurkacz before falling to Jakub Mensik. The word No. 70 is certainly playing well enough to capitalize on this opportunity if his compatriot is not totally fit.
Pick: Van de Zandschulp in 2
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