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Match Details
Fixture: (3) Alexander Zverev vs Pablo Carreno Busta
Date: Friday, August 16, 2024
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: Third round (Round of 16)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio, U.S.
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $6,795,555
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Alexander Zverev vs Pablo Carreno Busta preview
Third seed Alexander Zverev will continue his quest for a second Cincinnati crown against Pablo Carreno Busta in the third round on Friday, August 16.
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Zverev kicked off his campaign against the tricky Karen Khachanov in the second round after receiving a bye in the first round. He snagged ahead in the sixth game, breaking Khachanov's serve courtesy of some brilliant power and accuracy from the baseline. That break proved enough as he went on to serve out the first set comfortably.
Zverev began the second set in the best possible way, breaking serve with a fantastic backhand down the line in the very first game. He dominated from there on, not giving Khachanov a sniff back into the match. He went on to seal a 6-3, 6-2 victory.
Carreno Busta, meanwhile, opened his Cincinnati campaign against an in-form Sebastian Korda in the first round. He took a tight opening set and completely dominated in the second set to register a shock 7-5, 6-1 victory.
In the second round, he took on Max Purcell. A solitary break in the opener proved to be the difference as Carreno Busta comfortably served it out. A similar display in the second from the baseline saw the Spaniard seal an emphatic 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Alexander Zverev vs Pablo Carreno Busta head-to-head
Alexander Zverev leads Pablo Carreno Busta 3-0 in their head-to-head. They last played at the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters which Zverev won 6-2, 7-5.
Alexander Zverev vs Pablo Carreno Busta odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Alexander Zverev vs Pablo Carreno Busta prediction
Alexander Zverev looked dominant in his opener and will be a real force to be reckoned with in Cincinnati if he continues serving the way he has been. He won an incredible 84% of points behind his first serve, and was equally potent on the return, converting four out of eight break-point opportunities. His blistering pace has aided him well up until now and could pose a serious threat going forward.
Pablo Carreno Busta, on the contrary, only returned to the tour at the French Open earlier this year after being sidelined for almost a year and a half because of an injured right elbow. His form so far in Cincinnati suggests otherwise, as he slowly looks like he's getting back to his previous best. The 33-year-old has been particularly good on serve and is yet to face a break point this week. His baseline game has been great too, and his backhand continues to be his main weapon.
Zverev enters this encounter as the clear favorite given his recent form and Carreno Busta's absence on tour for a while. The Spaniard will have to be at the top of his mark and make early inroads to stand a chance against the big-serving German.
Pick: Zverev in straight sets.
