A tournament that features most, if not all, of tennis’ top stars, the 2023 Western & Southern Open is this week in Cincinnati and the first round is already underway. While Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are dueling for the No. 1 ranking in the world, there are a ton of other notable names clashing at this tournament. For instance, in SBS’ breakdown of this event, Miomir Kecmanović squares off against Tommy Paul as the latter aims to continue his ascension into the top ten in the world. Meanwhile, Russia’s Karen Khacahanov duels with former No. 1 player in the world, Andy Murray, in the first round as both are vying to make some noise in this tournament.
In this article, SBS will be going over what to look for in these two first-round matchups, predicted winners, and also more thoughts about tennis wagering.
| Tennis ATP Cincinnati First Round | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Paul vs. Miomir Kecmanovic | Paul | -209 | -209 | -209 |
| Andy Murray vs. Karen Khachanov | Khachanov | +122 | +122 | +122 |
What to look for from: Tommy Paul
An American player that is perhaps a rising star in the tennis world, Paul is aiming for his second career ATP title after winning the 2021 Stockholm Open. A player with a career-winning percentage of 55.6%, Paul will have his hands full with Kecmanović in the first round, but should be up to the task. The American is known for his strong attacking forehand and solid footwork which has led him to his best year yet in 2023, with a career-best record of 8-3 in Grand Slam tournaments. This bodes well for Paul as he is also coming off a career-best semifinal appearance at the 2023 Canadian Open.
What to look for from: Miomir Kecmanović
Another burgeoning star, Kecmanović is currently rated as the No. 2 Serbian player in the world behind Djokovic which is pretty fantastic company to keep. Another athlete aiming for their second ATP title, the 23-year-old has had a hard time this year in ATP Masters 1000 events, notching a record of 2-6 during these tournaments. That said, he did have a solid 2022 where he was able to amass a record of 8-4 in Grand Slam tournaments, along with a mark of 10-7 in ATP 1000 events.
Prediction: This should be a fun matchup between the young stars, but look for Paul to pull away here given his more consistent 2023 performances to date.
What to look for from: Andy Murray
One of the most accomplished players in this tournament, Murray is a former No. 1 player in the world and is also the winner of three Grand Slam tournaments. With a hugely expansive resume, Murray has won a total of 46 ATP Tour singles titles, along with two gold medals at the Summer Olympics. However, he has sustained multiple injuries in recent years and is looking for some more consistent outings. For this year alone, he has struggled in ATP events, accruing a record of 4-5 in ATP 1000 tournaments. That said, he is coming off a performance at the Canadian Open where he advanced to the third round.
What to look for from: Karen Khachanov
Another strong player, Khachanov has won four ATP Tour singles titles in his career, along with claiming a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This year has also been one of his best to date, notching a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open and advancing to the quarterfinals at the French Open. This follows his semifinal performance in the U.S. Open which was his best-ever outing at the event. Moreover, he is 10-5 this year in ATP Masters 1000 events.
Prediction: This is a classic veteran vs. a player in their prime matchup. While Murray has an excellent resume, this is Khachanov’s time to shine.
After you are all dialed in regarding your tennis wagers at the 2023 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, make sure to tap into the all excellent resources at SBS. Of course, for those in the know, our tennis betting sites guide is a must-bookmark page that gives you all the latest news and betting lines on the sport. Moreover, if you are perhaps looking for some higher-stakes wagering options, then look no further than the VIP sports betting sites rundown which covers all of the nuances and perks of VIP wagering. Finally, for those uncertain about the payment options available to them, our payment methods breakdown is an excellent resource. On this page, you can learn more about the various deposit and withdrawal options available to you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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