Three quarter-final picks from Cincinnati today, and honestly it's a fascinating set of matchups with Americans all over the draw. Let's get into it.
Cincinnati Open Predictions
Taylor Fritz vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: Fritz 4-1 Nakashima
Fritz has dominated this rivalry pretty comfortably, and Nakashima's only win came back when Fritz was nowhere near the level he's at now. That 4-1 record, which includes multiple straight-set wins on hard courts, isn't just a number either, it reflects how much better Fritz is at handling the pace of a hard-court baseline exchange and finding the right moment to step in and attack. Nakashima can hang in rallies all day, but Fritz has the firepower to end points when it matters.
That said, these two know each other well and Nakashima will make it uncomfortable at times. I still think Fritz pulls away in three.
Prediction: Fritz in 3
Tommy Paul vs Flavio Cobolli
Head-to-head: Paul 0-1 Cobolli
Cobolli holds the only H2H win here, and he's been playing some really confident tennis to get to a quarter-final in Cincinnati. But that one meeting happened on clay, which is a completely different conversation on hard courts, and Paul is a much tougher opponent in these conditions. Paul's serve and his ability to dictate with the forehand on faster surfaces gives him a clear edge over what Cobolli can do here.
Hard to see Cobolli being anything more than a passenger in this one on hard courts. Paul gets through in three though, all things considered.
Prediction: Paul in 3
Lorenzo Musetti vs Frances Tiafoe
Head-to-head: Musetti 4-4 Tiafoe
As even as it gets. Eight meetings, perfectly split, and these two always seem to produce something dramatic. Musetti's one-handed backhand and his ability to change the pace of a rally makes him dangerous on any surface, but Tiafoe at his best on American hard courts, with the crowd behind him, is a different animal and he's become so good at not panicking when matches get tight. The atmosphere in Cincinnati tends to lift him.
Musetti will have his moments, but Tiafoe takes this one.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Wally Nell/ZUMA Press Wire