Marin Cilic vs Carlos Alcaraz Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Cincinnati Open

Prediction published on 17/08/2022, 10:48  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 17/08/2022 at 11:49 in Tennis Predictions

Third seeded Carlos Alcarez takes on the 14th seed Marin Cilic for a place in the Cincinnati Masters quarter finals. Alcarez began this week ranked fourth in the world and has won four titles this year. The last one was won in May on clay but he has reached two finals in his last three tournaments. They were in Hamburg and Umag, again both clay court tournaments. His first event in the American hard court season didn't go well with a last 64 defeat by Tommy Paul in Montreal after taking the first set. This week has seen him play just one match so far, a comfortable straight sets win over wild card Michael McDonald. Alcarez has had success on hard courts and will look to find the kind of form that saw him win the Miami Masters earlier this year, one of two Masters events he has won in 2022. He's had two previous meetings with Cilic and the score is 1-1. Surprisingly, the match Cilic won was on clay last year. Alcarez got his revenge with a straight sets win over Cilic on his way to that title in Miami.

Marin Cilic is 14 years older than his opponent but has enjoyed a successful year and is 17th in the rankings. He's reached three semi-finals and to illustrate the varied nature of his game, they have all been reached on diffferent surfaces. He got to the last four of the French Open and then in his next event, the last four at Queen's Club. Cilic was ready for another crack at the Wimbledon title when having to pull out before it began due to contracting COVID-19. He didn't make his return until this month when losiing in the last 16 in Montreal. Cilic has won two matches so far this week, beating qualifier Jaume Munar and then Emil Ruusuvouri in three sets, losing the middle one. Back Alcarez to get the win here.