REVEALED: Andy Murray’s path to 2021 Cincinnati Masters title

Former World No.1 Andy Murray returns to action at the ongoing Southern and Western Open, where he will take on Frenchman and long-time ATP colleague Richard Gasquet in the opening round in Cincinnati.

Murray is a former two-time champion at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, after winning the title in 2008 and 2011. He was also a runner-up at the event in 2016, when he lost to Croatian Marin Cilic in straight sets.

The Scot who has been regularly hampered by a series of injuries was last seen in action during the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, where he lost in the third round to Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in three sets.

While the three-time Grand Slam champion was seen on the grass courts of London, he missed out on the entire European clay court swing, due to injury.

Andy Murray’s path to glory

The 34-year-old will begin his Cincinnati campaign by taking on Gasquet, who has been struggling for a few years on the tour. While the Frenchman has played more tennis as compared to Murray, the Scot might get through the opening round, purely on talent and ability basis. In the second round, Murray will face the inform player from Poland Hubert Hurkacz, who will be a big threat.

If the two-time champion manages to break through the first two rounds, then waiting for him in the third round will be Tokyo Games bronze medalist Pablo Carreno Busta, who can be a gritty opponent on the hard courts.

In the quarters, Murray will have to encounter the reigning Toronto Masters champion Daniil Medvedev. In the semis, there is a prospect of clash against Canadian Denis Shapovalov, followed by a final against World No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Murray’s path to Cincinnati title:

• R64: Richard Gasquet
• R32: Hubert Hurkacz
• R16: Pablo Carreno Busta
• Quarterfinals:  Daniil Medvedev
• Semifinals: Denis Shapovalov
• Finals: Stefanos Tstisipas

This will be the only hard court tournament that Murray will play before the US Open begins on August 30 in New York. Murray won his first Grand Slam of his career at the US Open in 2012 by defeating Novak Djokovic in five sets. It also remains to be seen if the Brit gets seeded for the final Slam of the year.

Also read: Western and Southern Open 2021: Order of Play for Monday, 16th August 2021