Cincinnati Masters 2023 Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction: World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz leads as Novak Djokovic makes his return
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz in scintillating form at the moment and is on course to challenge Novak Djokovic for the Cincinnati Masters title.
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Borna Coric with his Cincinnati Masters title last year. (credits: ATP)
The 2023 Cincinnati Masters is just about to start with the qualifiers kicking off right from Saturday. The draws have already been announced with all the World’s Top 10 players participating in the competition. With Novak Djokovic making his grand return to the tennis court having last played at the Wimbledon Championships and top seed Carlos Alcaraz in scintillating form at the moment, a lot can happen in the week ahead.
Tournament Details
- Tournament: Cincinnati Masters 2023
- Date: 12th August – 20th August, 2023
- Number of Entrants: 64
- Venue: Cincinnati, United States
- Surface: Hard Court
- Prize Money: $6,600,000
- Defending Champion: Borna Coric
Top 10 Seeds at the Cincinnati Masters 2023
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Novak Djokovic
- Daniil Medvedev
- Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Casper Ruud
- Holger Rune
- Andrey Rublev
- Jannik Sinner
- Taylor Fritz
- Frances Tiafoe
Cincinnati Masters Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Analysis
First Quarter
Carlos Alcaraz has received a bye in the first round, as he could face John Isner in the second round. The World No. 1 might face some competition from one of the former best and a veteran of the sport but is still the favorite to progress to the third round. His biggest threat could come from the World No.5 Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals.
Casper Ruud has been handed a pretty tricky draw as well, Despite receiving a bye in the first round, he could face competition from the likes of Stan Wawrinka, Tommy Paul and Miomir Kecmanovic, and another Top 10 player Frances Tiafoe. Should he see through them, he is going to join Carlos for an epic quarter-final battle.
First Quarterfinal Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz vs Casper Ruud
Second Quarter
World No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas will be adamant to answer a lot of critics and media after his recent slump of form. Having been handed a pretty tough draw in the first few rounds, he has to be at his best to make it to the quarter-finals. He has to face players such as Ben Shelton, Christopher Eubanks, Hubert Hurkacz, and last year’s champion Borna Coric having received a first-round bye.
Tsitsipas could go on to face Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals who has received a pretty straightforward draw considering his form in the last few matches. The only player who could pose problems for him in the third round is Karen Khachanov or Andy Murray. It would be a dream quarter-final encounter if things go as planned between Stefanos and him.
Second Quarterfinal Prediction: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Andrey Rublev
Third Quarter
Holger Rune leads the third quarter as he has received a bye in the opening round. He is expected to have a third-round encounter with any one of the players namely: Felix Auger-Aliassime, Matteo Berrettini or Mackenzie McDonald. He can go on to face Daniil Medvedev in the last eight who faces a pretty easy draw compared to him. Medvedev has got his work cut out against players such as Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti, and Daniel Evans.
Third Quarter Final Prediction: Holger Rune vs Daniil Medvedev
Fourth Quarter
In the bottom quarter of the draw, making a return to tennis is World No. 2 Novak Djokovic. The Serbian is expected to have it easy by any means as he could very easily go on to face World No. 8 Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals. The only possible threat Novak might face on the way to his last eight hopes would be Cameron Norrie. On the other hand, Sinner will face the likes of Taylor Fritz and Francisco Cerundolo.
Fourth Quarter Final Prediction: Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic
Semifinals
Carlos Alcaraz is expected to win his quarter-finals clash against Casper Ruud easily having had the better of him in the last few clashes. He is expected to face the winner of the second quarter-final battle between Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitispas. Though many would rate Tsitsipas as the clear favorite in the tie, Rublev would embark on his recent performances and hand the Greek yet another setback. So we might see a semi-final clash between Carlos and Rublev ahead with Carlos being the favorite in the tie.
In the listings of the second semi-final, it is not at all straightforward. With stars such as Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune coming down the ranks and improving day by day, they can pose problems for favorites Djokovic and Daniil. Going according to the results of their last meetings, we might see one of the best clashes of the entire tournament at the semis when Novak takes on Medvedev. Novak is slightly considered the favorite going into the match.
Final Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
Finals
To be honest, there are few players in the world who might challenge Carlos at the moment considering the kind of red-hot form he is in. But we might see a rematch for the recently played Wimbledon finals. Novak will be adamant to get the revenge that saw him lose his first Wimbledon title in about five years. But Alcaraz might end up on the winning side and clinch the title yet again at the hands of the Serbian.
Champion: Carlos Alcaraz
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Soumyadeep Mondal
(882 Articles Published)