Cincinnati Open 2024: Jannik Sinner vs Alex Michelsen preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Jannik Sinner vs (Q) Alex Michelsen
Date: August 14, 2024
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 32)
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+
Jannik Sinner vs Alex Michelsen preview
After a first-round bye, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will take on qualifier Alex Michelsen in the second round of the Cincinnati Open 2024.
Sinner commenced the season by winning his maiden Major title at the Australian Open, rallying from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final. He continued his winning ways in Rotterdam, where he won his second title of the season.
Sinner's unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters. He resumed his winning ways with his third title of the year at the Miami Open.
The Italian concluded the clay swing without a title. He made the semifinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters and the French Open, losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alcaraz respectively. He didn't participate in the Italian Open and the Paris Olympics due to health issues and withdrew before his quarterfinal match at the Madrid Open.
Sinner captured his fourth title of the season in Halle at the start of the grass swing and then lost in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. He returned to action at last week's Canadian Open, where his title defense concluded in the quarterfinals against Andrey Rublev.
Michelsen came through the qualifying rounds in Cincinnati to book a first-round date with Tallon Griekspoor. The American claimed the first set with ease for the loss of only one game.
Michelsen served to take the second set into a tie-break but Griekspoor instead secured a break of serve to snatch the set. The qualifier got back on track in the decider and didn't look back after racing to a 4-0 lead to win the match 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.
Jannik Sinner vs Alex Michelsen head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between them, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
Jannik Sinner vs Alex Michelsen odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Jannik Sinner vs Alex Michelsen prediction
Recurring health issues have played spoilsport in what has otherwise been a great season for Sinner. He has a 44-5 record this year, and four of his five losses have come against top-10 players. The fifth loss was against Tsitsipas, who was ranked No. 12 at the time.
Michelsen overcame a second-set letdown to beat Griekspoor in the previous round. He won 88 percent of his first serve points and struck 36 winners against 12 unforced errors.
However, getting the better of Sinner would be quite a task for the young Michelsen. The Italian has more than twice as many wins compared to his rival and has reached at least the quarterfinals of every tournament this year. The World No. 1 is expected to make a winning start to his campaign given his form this year.
Pick: Jannik Sinner to win in straight sets.