Jannik Sinner vs Dušan Lajović Prediction & Betting Tips - Cincinnati, USA

Prediction published on 15/08/2023, 11:15  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 16/08/2023 at 04:35 in Tennis Predictions

Eighth seeded Jannik Sinner looks to build on his win in Toronto last weekend. He is now ranked sixth in the world and takes on unseeded Dusan Lajovic in the first round of the Western & Southern Open. This is another outdoor hard court Masters event and the final tournament before the US Open. The winner of this match will face either Lorenzo Sonego or Alexander Shevchenko in the third round. Sinner has a tough draw in Cincinnati as the Italian is in the same section as second seeded Novak Djokovic and also ninth seed Taylor Fritz. Sinner is in top form though and his win over Alex de Minaur on Sunday gave him his first Masters tournament win. He's reached at least the last eight of his four tournaments. Only Alcaraz, Djokovic and Medvedev have earned more ATP ranking points than Sinner this year.

Dusan Lajovic started this tournament ranked 66th but is up to 55th in the live rankings. This being a Masters event there are plenty of ranking points to be won this week. Lajovic has been ranked as high as 23rd but that was four years ago. The 33-year-old hasn't played any of the other outdoor hard court events recently held in America in the lead up to the US Open. His last tournament was on clay in Kitzbuhel where he lost his first match. Only one of his last nine matches had been won before the qualifying rounds of this tournament. He had two straight sets wins to make it into the main draw. Round one saw him defeat Francisco Cerundolo for the loss of seven games. His run looks to be ending here and we go for Sinner to win in straight sets.