David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA
Karen Khachanov vs Francisco Cerundolo: ATP Cincinnati – First round
Karen Khachanov and Francisco Cerundolo will face each other in the opening round of ATP Cincinnati.
Karen Khachanov Profile
Karen Khachanov is 22nd in the ATP rankings and his career high was No. 8 in the world. The Russian is 22-16 for the season and 11-8 on hard.
He is coming off a 7-5, 7-5 loss to Matteo Arnaldi in the second round in Montreal after beating Gabriel Diallo in the first. Khachanov lost the opener in Washington to Hong Seong Chan.
Khachanov won the title in Doha this season and reached the semifinal in Marseille.
This is his sixth appearance in Cincinnati and has never made it deeper than the round of 16.
Francisco Cerundolo Profile
Francisco Cerundolo is 28th in the rankings and his career high was No. 19 in the world. The Argentinian is 24-22 for the season and 3-6 on hard.
Cerundolo is coming off a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Casper Ruud in the round of 16 at the Olympics and has yet to play at the US Open tour this year.
Cerundolo won the title in Umag this season and reached the semifinals in Rio de Janeiro.
This will be his third appearance in Cincinnati and he has never won a match there.
Head-to-Head Khachanov leads 5-0
- Khachanov vs Cerundolo 6-2, 6-4 (2024 ATP Rome, third round)
- Khachanov vs Cerundolo 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 (2024 ATP Monte Carlo, second round)
- Khachanov vs Cerundolo 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (2024 ATP Miami, third round)
- Khachanov vs Cerundolo 6-3, 6-2 (2023 ATP Miami, quarterfinal)
- Khachanov vs Cerundolo 7-6, 5-7, 6-3 (2022 ATP Montreal, first round)
Prediction and Conclusion
Both players have had many ups and downs this season. They have won a title but, at the same time, have lost to players who are not on their level. However, looking at their previous head-to-head matches, Khachanov has been absolutely dominant, beating Cerundolo three times this year. The Argentinian is not keen on playing on hard surfaces, and Khachanov will be able to advance to the next round.
