Zhizhen Zhang vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Cincinnati Open

Prediction published on 12/08/2024, 10:04  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 12/08/2024 at 10:35 in ATP Cincinnati Open Predictions

Two unseeded players meet in the first round of the hard court Cincinnati Masters. It's Zhizhen Zhang against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard with the winner up against sixth seed Andrey Rublev in round two. Time for our match prediction.

With Rublev still in Montreal, it's possible this match could be delayed or the Russian might even withdraw from the tournament, so bear that in mind. There's not much between Zhang and Perricard in the rankings at present.

Zhang is 44th in the live list, four ahead of his opponent but three behind Perricard in the ATP Race. Zhang is playing his first tournament since the Paris Olympics where he lost to Tomas Machac in round one. He has had some good form in recent months but on clay and grass.

On hard courts, the Chinese player has lost four of his last five matches. His only quarter-final on this surface in 2024 came in Marseille but of his two wins there, one was against a player ranked outside the top 100.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has been steadily climbing the rankings this year. 2024 began with him just outside the top 200 and now he's in the top 50. The Frenchman enjoyed success on the Challenger Tour with a hard court title won in Nottingham, England in February.

April saw him win two more in Mexico, again coming on hard courts. On the ATP Tour he won a clay court title in Lyon and then reached the last 16 at Wimbledon. Last week in Montreal he lost a lead and was beaten in the first qualifying round. We tip him to beat Zhang.