After a rain-impacted Day 1 in Cincinnati, first-round action will continue on Friday at the ATP 1000 tournament. LWOT previews and predicts the exciting matches ahead of a star-studded weekend.
Bautista Agut made the semifinals of this event way back in 2020, but the Spaniard’s age and wear on the court have slowed down both his groundstrokes and speed. Altmaier, who has lost his three matches, has a rather poor 31% win rate on hard courts throughout his career, and the veteran Bautista Agut has a bit more experience on these sturdy courts despite his age. The Spaniard hasn’t played a match on hard courts this summer, but I can see him sneaking through this match deep into a third set. Prediction: Bautista Agut in 3
Sitting just outside the Top 100, Brooksby could use a big week at this tournament to boost his confidence for the US Open. Muller, on the other hand, enters this tournament coming off a 14-19 record in 2025 at tour level, as he lost in the third round last week in Toronto. The Frenchman has a consistent game, and despite Brooksby’s tendency to perform well at home in the United States, he’s on a three-match losing streak. Look for Muller to progress to the second round. Prediction: Muller in 2 Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
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