Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic Prediction & Betting Tips - Cincinnati, USA

Prediction published on 20/08/2023, 04:35  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 20/08/2023 at 08:30 in Tennis Predictions

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz faces world number two Novak Djokovic in the final of the Western & Southern Open. By reaching the final Carlos Alcaraz has ensured he will go into the US Open at the top of the rankings. it's been a tough journey to this outdoor hard court title decider in Cincinnati  The Spaniard wasn't happy with his form in Toronto last week when losing to Tommy Paul in the last eight. He seems a bit happier this week but in all four of his matches he's had to go to a final set. He beat unseeded Jordan Thompson in his first match and then got revenge on Paul for that defeat in Toronto. The last two rounds have seen him have to come from behind to get his win. That was the case against qualifier Max Purcell and in the last four when he faced unseeded Hubert Hurkacz. Alcaraz had to save a match point in the last four before winning 2-6 7-6 6-3 to reach his eighth final of the year. He's won six titles so far in 2023 with one being on a hard court. Alcaraz leads Djokovic 2-1 in previous meetings. They've shared two matches this year and this is the first time they have met each other on a hard court.

Novak Djokovic has had a much easier route to his fifth final of the year. He's won three titles in 2023, two of them Grand Slam events and this is his third hard court final of the year. He's bidding to win this title for the third time and has reached five other finals. He can't regain his number one status but a win over Alcaraz just before the US Open (where the Spaniard is the current champion) would put him in the mood to win a third Grand Slam of the year. This is his first tournament since losing to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. Djokovic has not dropped a set on his way to this final. The last four saw him beat 16th seeded Alexander Zverev in two tight sets, one needing a tie-break. He looks to be in the better form of these two giants of the game and we go for a Djokovic win here.