Cincinnati 2024: Frances Tiafoe vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Western & Southern Open
Match Details
Fixture: Frances Tiafoe vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Date: August 13, 2024
Tournament: Western & Southern Open
Round: First Round (Round of 64)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio, US
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $6,795,555
Live Telecast: US - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Frances Tiafoe vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina preview
Home favorite Frances Tiafoe will take on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round of the Western & Southern Open.
A third-round exit from Wimbledon brought an end to Tiafoe's grass campaign. He opted to resume the summer hardcourt swing at the Atlanta Open instead of participating in the Paris Olympics.
Following a first-round bye, Tiafoe beat Aslan Karatsev in three sets to reach the quarterfinals. He then lost to eventual champion Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets. He made the semifinals of his next tournament, the Citi Open, going down to another eventual champion, Sebastian Korda.
Tiafoe couldn't build upon this performance and was sent packing by Alejandro Tabilo in the first round of the Canadian Open. This will be his eighth consecutive appearance in Cincinnati, his best streak at a Masters tournament.
Davidovich Fokina, too, competed in Atlanta instead of the Olympics. He reached the quarterfinals, where he was beaten by Jordan Thompson. He was defeated by Flavio Cobolli in the third round of the Citi Open after that.
The Spaniard advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open with wins over Roman Safiullin and Daniil Medvedev. He faced Matteo Arnaldi for a spot in the quarterfinals but unfortunately sustained an injury that forced him to retire in the third set.
Frances Tiafoe vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina head-to-head
Tiafoe leads Davidovich Fokina 1-0 in the head-to-head. He won their previous encounter at the Estoril Open 2022 in three sets.
Frances Tiafoe vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Frances Tiafoe vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina prediction
This has been a rather underwhelming season for Tiafoe. By this time last year, he had won a couple of titles and reached a Masters semifinal. He has put together two wins in a row in only four tournaments this year and hasn't won consecutive matches in back-to-back tournaments.
Tiafoe has a 11-10 record on hardcourts this season, and 4-3 since the tour made its way back to the surface last month. Davidovich Fokina, meanwhile, has a 13-10 record on the surface and has gone 5-3 on it in recent weeks.
Their previous encounter in Estoril a couple of years ago was a close affair, with Tiafoe coming out on top in three sets. Davidovich Fokina's recent injury is also a concern and could affect his performance here. Additionally, he has won only one match in Cincinnati from three appearances so far.
Tiafoe's record at the venue stands at 6-7, which isn't that great but a lot better than Davidovich Fokina's results here. As such, the American will be expected to make a winning start to his campaign here.
Pick: Frances Tiafoe to win in three sets.