Top five favourites in men's singles at Cincinnati Open 2024

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will miss this year’s Cincinnati Open.

After the exhilarating action of the Paris Olympics 2024, tennis fans are now turning their attention to the hard court season. The US Open is set to begin on August 26 and run through September. Before this Grand Slam, players will compete in a crucial hard court event, the Cincinnati Open 2024.

The 2023 Cincinnati Open was memorable for its dramatic final, where Novak Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a tough match. Djokovic, who is the defending Olympic gold medalist, will not compete this year to stay fresh for the US Open. However, most of the top-ranked players will be at the Cincinnati Open, which is expected to be a key warm-up for the upcoming Grand Slam in New York.

Here are the top five title contenders in men’s singles at Cincinnati Open

5. Andrey Rublev

The hard hitting Andrey Rublev is one of the most exciting tennis players to watch out for in the next couple of months. Known for his strong serves, the Russian has had an incredible stint at the recently concluded Canadian Open where he defeated reigning Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner.

Not long ago, Andrey Rublev surprised many by defeating four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz at the Madrid Open, where he went on to win the tournament. Like his Russian peer Daniil Medvedev, Rublev is known for his impressive performances on the court. Having missed the Paris Olympics, the 26-year-old is expected to come into the Cincinnati Open refreshed and ready to make a strong impact.

Also read: Cincinnati Open 2024 Updated Schedules, Results and Live Streaming details

4. Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev has had a disappointing last couple of months. The German looked to be in fine shape heading into Wimbledon and was expected to go the distance. However, after being 2 sets up against Fritz in the fourth round, the American stunned the 27-year-old who was caught napping.

At Paris, he had a chance to defend his Olympic gold but was knocked out in the quarter-finals. The shift to hard courts will bring in some much needed change in atmosphere for Zverev as he aims to get used to the conditions in Cincinnati before vying for a maiden Grand Slam in New York.

3. Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner had an impressive start to the year, winning his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open. However, he missed the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis, which was a major setback for him.

Since his early success, Sinner has faced difficulties. He had an early exit at Wimbledon and lost to Andrey Rublev at the Canadian Open, causing a drop in his performance. With the Cincinnati Open and the US Open approaching, Sinner has an opportunity to recover and maintain his top position in the world rankings.

2. Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev is back on his preferred surface—hard courts—where he has previously excelled. After struggling on other surfaces during the Olympics, Medvedev is eager to return to what he does best.

His only Grand Slam win came at the 2021 US Open. Last year, he reached the final but lost to Novak Djokovic. In the 2023 Cincinnati Open, Medvedev was knocked out by Alexander Zverev in the round of 16. With his strong hard court game and recent win over Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, Medvedev is a strong contender for the 2024 Cincinnati Open.

1. Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning Wimbledon and French Open champion, is a top favorite for the Cincinnati Open. After a tough result at the Paris Olympics, Alcaraz aims to win his fifth Grand Slam.

He has won most of his Grand Slam titles on clay and grass, with just one hard court win at the 2022 US Open. Known for his powerful game, Alcaraz is expected to perform well on hard courts. He also hopes to improve on his second-place finish at the 2023 Cincinnati Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in a close three-set match.

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