Western & Southern Open 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction for Cincinnati Masters

Western & Southern Open 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction for Cincinnati Masters

Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas

The most coveted tournament of the North American Swing after the US Open, The Cincinnati Masters will commence from August 15 and will be the last opportunity for all top players to tune up for the last grand slam of the year.

Tournament Details:

  • Tournament: Western & Southern Open
  • Date: August 15 – 22, 2021
  • Number of Entrants: 56 (Singles), 28 (Doubles)
  • Venue: Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.
  • Surface: Hard Court
  • Prize Money: $3,028,140
  • Defending champion: Novak Djokovic

Top Seeds at the Western & Southern Open 2021

  • Daniil Medvedev
  • Stefanos Tsitsipas
  • Alexander Zverev
  • Andrey Rublev
  • Matteo Berrettini

Men’s Singles Draw Analysis and Prediction

Top Half

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev

The top half of the draw will be headlined by World No.2 Daniil Medvedev. He receives a first round bye alongwith 7 other top seeds. He is set to face either Brandon Nakashima or Mackenzie McDonald in the second round. The Russian then has a tough draw ahead and could face either of Roberto Bautista Agut, Grigor Dimitrov or Alexander Bublik in the Round of 16.

9th seed Hubert Hurkacz will open against Fokina and could face Andy Murray in the second round. Murray will take on a qualifier in the first round. 7th seed Pablo Carreno Busta will take either John Millman or Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round. Carreno Busta could face either of Murray or Hurkacz in the Round of 16. A Medvedev-Hurakcz rematch from Toronto is on the cards in the Cincinnati quarters.

FS Video

Fourth seed Andrey Rublev has a very tough task ahead of him as he is set to face either Aslan Karatsev or Marin Cilic in the second round. Gael Monfils, Dusan Lajovic, Filip Krajinovic and Alex de Minaur are also in his bracket. Jannik Sinner will open against Federico Delbonis and will take on either John Isner or Cameron Norrie in a block buster second round match. 6th seed Denis Shapovalov will face either Benoit Paire or Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round.

First Semifinal Prediction: Daniil Medvedev vs John Isner

Bottom Half

Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas will headline and bottom half and could face young American Sebastian Korda in the second round who faces Laslo Djere in the opener. 16th seed Cristian Garin and Lorenzo Sonego are also in the bottom bracket. Tsitsipas and Garin could battle it out in the third round.

Wimbledon runner-up, Matteo Berrettini will be back in action after a month long break and will face either Taylor Fritz or Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the second round. 12th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime will open against Marton Fucsovics in the opening round and could face Olympic silver medallist, Karen Khachanov in the second round. Best friends, Berrettini and Felix could lock horns in the Round of 16.

Olympic gold medallist, Alexander Zverev will play his first match after his Olympic triumph against either a qualifier or in form Llyod Harris. He is set to face either of David Goffin, Nikoloz Basilashvili or Fabio Fognini in the Round of 16. Eighth seed Casper Ruud will face either a qualifier of big serving American Reilly Opelka in the second round. The winner of the bracket will face either of Diego Schwartzman, Daniel Evans, Frances Tiafoe or Ugo Humbert in the Round of 16.

Second Semifinal Prediction: Alexander Zverev vs Matteo Berrettini

Semifinals

Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev

Daniil Medvedev will be up against big serving American John Isner in the first semifinal. Isner’s serve will again be the key and the fast surface at Cincinnati would favour him. But Medvedev will start favorite because of his all-around game.

The second semifinal will be between two in form players, Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini. Both players have a very strong attacking game from the baseline and whoever serves well should come out the victor.

Final prediction: Daniil Medvedev vs Alexander Zverev

Cincinnati Masters Final

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev

The Cincinnati 2021 Final will be played between two of the best NextGen players, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. Both the players are in amazing touch and the battle promises to be a great one. Expect the match to go down the distance with Medvedev winning his second Cincinnati title.

Also read: ‘My best version will be back in 2022,’ assures Dominic Thiem