ATP Cincinnati Draw Analysis - Which of the Big Four will triumph this week?

Rafael Nadal celebrates with the winner’s trophy after defeating Milos Roanic during the final of the Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium on August 11, 2013 in Montreal, Canada. (Getty Images)

Third Quarter:

While their projected quarter-final at Wimbledon never happened, Nadal and Federer have been placed in the same section once again. The Spaniard has won both their encounters this year. And when you consider that Nadal has just won the Montreal Masters and Federer is coming back from a back injury with a newish racquet, the Spaniard will be a clear favourite if the two rivals meet once again.

Nadal’s road to the quarters looks pretty smooth with only 13^th seed Nicolas Almagro and Grigor Dimitrov likely to put up some resistance (those two meet in what should be an entertaining first round match).

On the other hand, Federer gets the winner of Phillipp Kohlscreibber and Mardy Fish in the second round and possibly 11^th seed Tommy Haas or in-form South African Kevin Anderson in the third round (Haas and Anderson also meet in the first round).

There will also be some eyes on American Brian Baker, who plays his first ATP level event since January due to knee surgery.

First Round matches to watch for – (11) Haas vs. Anderson; (13) Almagro vs. Dimitrov

Prediction – Nadal to beat Anderson

Fourth Quarter:

After a disappointing show in Montreal, world number two Andy Murray has a chance to redeem himself and rack up some wins and confidence in Cincinnati. The bad news is that he could meet Ernests Gulbis, who knocked him out of Montreal last week, in the second round. Should Murray get past Gulbis this time around, he should be able to beat the charismatic Italian Fabio Fognini, who won 13 matches in a row on clay after Wimbledon to break into the top 20.

Murray’s projected quarter-final draw is the sixth seed Tomas Berdych. The Czech is always dangerous on hard courts and is in a relatively easy section of the draw, with ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka or Tommmy Robredo lined up in the third round.

First round matches to watch for – (14) Fognini vs Radek Stepanek; Gulbis vs. Mikhail Youzhny

Prediction – Murray to beat Wawrinka

Semi-Final Predictions – The last time Djokovic and del Potro played, they put on one of the best shows this year, before the Argentine ran out of steam in the Wimbledon semis. This is going to be a best-of-three sets, which will favour del Potro. The Argentinean should face Murray in the final, who should get past a tired Nadal in his semi-final.

Finals – Murray to beat del Potro