Cincinnati 2024: Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov preview, head-to-head, prediction and pick
Match details
Fixture: (3) Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov
Date: TBD
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: First Round (Round of 64)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Ohio, USA
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize money: $6,795,555
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - TSN | UK - Sky UK | India - Sony Liv
Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov preview
The second round of the 2024 Cincinnati Open will pit Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov against each other in a blockbuster affair.
Zverev, the third seed at this year’s tournament, has come close to a big result only to fall in latter stages of the tournament on multiple occasions this season. In the last few weeks, he has lost the German Open final and the Canadian Open quarterfinal to much lower-ranked opponents.
That said, a 49-15 win-loss record for the season is impressive and he will be eyeing nothing short of the title in Cincinnati.
Placed at No. 22, Khachanov is one of the highest ranked players to not be seeded in the draw. The Russian has been playing solid tennis this season and his win-loss ratio adds up to 23-15.
He, however, has not had the best of starts to the US Open swing. After losing in the first round of the Citi Open to Seong-chan Hong, the 28-year-old fell against Matteo Arnaldi in Toronto in the second round.
The Russian has begun his Cincinnati campaign in a thunderous fashion, dismantling Francisco Cerundolo 6-0, 6-3 and will be keen to bring the momentum against Zverev.
Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov head-to-head
Zverev leads Khachanov in their current head-to-head 4-2. The German also won their latest meeting, which came in Miami earlier this year, in straight sets.
Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov odds
(Odds to updated)
Alexander Zverev vs Karen Khachanov prediction
Both Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov employ similar power-packed games built around a big serve.
A lot of the points are won with the serve and third shot itself, and things could go down to smaller stats like which player can get the higher number of first serves in.
Zverev is placed at No. 3 in the serve stats for the season. He averages nine aces a match and has been winning 75% of the points behind the first delivery. Those numbers are marginally better than the No. 26-placed Khachanov.
The courts in Cincinnati reward risk-takers and the player looking to be the aggressor will have the upper hand. And going by the recent results, Zverev is better equipped at doing so.
Prediction: Zverev to win in two tight sets