Cincinnati Masters 2022: Daniil Medvedev vs. Botic Van de Zandschulp Fokina Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 Cincinnati Masters as Daniil Medvedev takes on Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round on Tuesday, August 16th, 2022.

Ahead of his US Open title defense, Daniil Medvedev will have one more chance to get games under his belt at the Cincinnati Masters. But he faces a tricky opener in Botic van de Zandschulp –a man who exceeded expectations at last year’s US Open. Who will prevail?

Daniil Medvedev will be looking to atone for last week’s mishap against Nick Kyrgios. Medvedev let slip a one-set lead over the in-form Aussie and did have his chances to put Kyrgios to the sword but let him off the hook. The 2019 champion of the Cincinnati Masters ended his title drought for the year before last week in Los Cabos, romping to his first trophy of 2022 without dropping a set. The Russian will have to overcome stiff competition in Ohio if he is to go to New York a two-time titlist this year. Can he avoid a second successive early exit when he takes on Botic van de Zandschulp?

At this time last season, Botic van de Zandschulp’s ranking was not even high enough to get into the main draws or qualifying rounds of ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. But he put together a scintillating run at the US Open (reaching his first Grand Slam quarterfinal as a qualifier) and during the indoor hard-court season in Europe where he made his first ATP semifinal. The Dutchman has since vaulted in the rankings in 2022, breaking the world’s top 100 and rising to a career high No. 24 ahead of his Cincinnati Masters debut.

Daniil Medvedev leads Botic van de Zandschulp 2-0 in their head-to-head. The Dutchman’s fairytale run in New York last season was ended by Medvedev in four sets, and the Russian won their second encounter in Melbourne earlier this year. Medvedev will likely have the upper hand again in this matchup. Despite van de Zandschulp’s ability to absorb pace with his variety, Medvedev is the kind of player who is so comfortable trading blows from the back of the court without worrying of missing. I suspect the world No. 1 will breeze into the second round of the Cincinnati Masters unscathed.