Cincinnati Open 2025: Men’s and Women’s Draw Preview and Analysis
Tennis titans Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka have been dealt tough but doable paths in the Cincinnati draw preview for 2025. After weeks of injuries and burnout, top players limp back onto the scene like warriors emerging from the rubble, eyes scanning for danger, racquets clutched like weapons.
It’s tough to put together what might be the readiness of many seeds. Others like Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Alex De Minaur have been whirling dynamos of match play.
All the while, Cincinnati unveils a $260 million dollar upgrade to this tournament, taking it from serviceable concrete jungle to sleek, fan-friendly tennisphere.
Anyone could storm through the Cincinnati draw preview with a bonanza of points, but who emerges healthy enough to take on New York remains a key question.
To the analysis:
Jannik Sinner Returns to Action in Cincinnati
Sinner’s first real test could come in round 3 with lanky big-serving upstart Gabriel Diallo. He then might face Tommy Paul, who is slated to return from multiple injuries. Jannik has never played Gab, and Tommy has been swiping sets off the world number one. Assuming Sinner is healthy, rust might yield sets, but not losses.
I have fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi advancing to the quarterfinals on the basis of match fitness. Because Sinner’s game has been sharpened by Alcaraz this year, it’s hard to see anyone else keeping pace.
Sinner and Alcaraz, along with Ben Shelton, remain the most unbothered players in men’s tennis when it comes to off-court drama.
Cincinnati Draw Preview and Analysis: Taylor Fritz
This section of the draw features a potential second round match between phenom Joao Fonseca and battery-powered Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. ADF has played over 20 hard court matches this season, and we haven’t even hit Cincy. Fonseca has opted to rest more and has suffered a few early defeats. Which is better: Rest or test? I favor Foki on pure defense over offense.
In this quarter, I also like Francis Tiafoe and Alex Michelson to make solid runs on home turf in the States.
Speaking of energetic players, Flavio Cobolli has my attention. He’s a legitimate force on tour and is obviously here to stay. With his athleticism and court coverage, he could give Fritz trouble in a potential contrast-of-styles match. Taylor’s return game has improved, so I give him the edge if this match happens. It could provide Fritz yet another crack at the ever-confounding puzzle of Sinner.
Ben Shelton Makes Race Case
With Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper out of Cincinnati, 3-seed Alexander Zverev and 5-seed Ben Shelton anchor a section of the 2025 Cincinnati draw preview. Shelton, with strong runs in D.C. and Canada, is focused and steadily rising. His stellar play has moved him into the Top 8 in the Race for Turin.
This is a thick section which also includes Jiri Lehecka, Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov, and Arthur Fils. I have Zverev over Lehecka only because Shelton has a taped up quad. Look for a potential upset at the hands of another lefty Cam Norrie.
Carlos Alcaraz: Tan, Rested, Ready for Cincinnati Draw
Alcaraz returns to tour only to face several threats in his section of the Cincy draw. A potential matchup with Tallon Griekspoor might trip him, as could a dogfight with Miami champ Jakub Mensik. If he can get through that, he might face an in-form Alex de Minaur.
I don’t expect Carlos to be in peak shape. He has a 4-0 record vs Demon, but they’ve never played on outdoor hard court. Based on the complexity of the Alcaraz path, I expect a fiddle-fit De Minaur to emerge from this thicket.
My players to watch come through:
QF: Sinner, Fritz, Zverev, De Minaur
SF: Sinner, De Minaur
F: Sinner
Cincinnati Draw Preview and Analysis: WTA
World number one Aryna Sabalenka returns to North American after skipping the Montreal Masters– only to find herself plunked in a hot mess of talent. She could face former Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova in round two, a resurgent Emma Raducanu in round 3, and possibly D.C. champ Leylah Fernandez after that. Among other dangerous floaters in this quarter. Elena Rybakina and Madison Keys also reside in this section of the Cincinnati draw preview. The defending champ will be tested early and often.
Also in this half, Iga Swiatek gets her hardcourt legs about her after a loss to Clara Tauson in Montreal. Court speed in this renovated Cincy venue will be critical for Iga, who likes the time to wind up her Western-grip forehand. Upstart Canadian Victoria Mboko and American Amanda Anisimova also feature in this area of the draw.
On the other side, Jessica Pegula, who make the finals here last year, gets an easier path. I don’t see a threat until Belida Bencic or Tauson later in the tournament. American Emma Navarro, whose father had a hand in the Cincinnati venue renovation, might feel some pressure to perform.
And finally, the talk of tennis surrounds Coco Gauff’s double faults. The two-time Grand Slam champion continues to win in spurts, defying critics who don’t understand how she does. In my mind, her biggest threat in this quarter is mentally tough Elina Svitolina.
My players to watch come through:
QF: Rybakina, Anisimova, Pegula, Svitolina
SF: Rybakina, Pegula
F: Pegula
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