The fans started to believe that the Cincinnati Masters wouldn’t be very competitive after Carlos Alcaraz took an exit. However, the world no.1 Jannik Sinner is still there, standing strong to provide spectators with the action they expect. Sitting on a commendable campaign of three victories, the young Italian is set to face a tough challenge as Alexander Zverev gets his racket ready. The German, who won the tournament back in 2021, is determined to repeat the historical events. But who among the two rivals is more likely to win? Here’s a detailed analysis with odds and picks.

Jannik Sinner vs Alexander Zverev: Preview

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner made it to the semifinals after defeating Alex Michelsen 6-4 7-5, Jordan Thompson (walkover), and Andrey Rublev 4-6 7-5 6-4. In his quarterfinal showdown against Rublev, the young Italian fought back from a set down to win by scoring 111 points to Rublev’s 101 along with hitting 36 winners. Sinner has lost just one set in this tournament on the quest of winning 53% of the points he played. Over the last seven years, Sinner has managed to secure a commendable 73% win rate (319-118) and is 21-2 on hard courts in 2024. His best results this year include titles at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, and Halle.

Alexander Zverev, on the other side, reached the semifinals after defeating Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-2, Pablo Carreno-Busta 7-5 7-6(6), and Ben Shelton 3-6 7-6(3) 7-5. His quarterfinal match against Shelton saw Zverev come back from a set down to win as he scored 103 points to Shelton’s 95 along with hitting 44 winners. Zverev has also lost one set in the tournament and won 54% of the points he played. His best results this season came in Rome, where he beat Nicolas Jarry. Zverev holds a 52-15 record in 2024, with a 23-7 mark on hard courts. He previously won this tournament in 2021.

Sinner vs Zverev: Head-to-head

Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev have crossed paths with each other a number of times. Holding their position in the top 10, most of their meetings generally take place in higher rounds, making their rivalry an intense one. Looking at the numbers, the German holds a remarkable lead as he secured wins in 4 of the five matches played against Sinner.

Although they didn’t receive an opportunity to lock horns in the ongoing season so far, their last meeting was recorded back in 2023. During the US Open round of 16, Zverev presented a commendable performance as he took down the young Italian in an intense five-setter showdown with a final scoreline of 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Besides this one, here’s an overview of the other matches played between them:

• Monte Carlo Masters 2022 QFs: Zverev won 5-7, 6-3, 7-6
• US Open 2021 R16: Zverev won 6-4, 6-4, 7-6
• Cologne 2020 SFs: Zverev won 7-6, 6-3
• Roland Garros 2o20 R16: Sinner won 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Prediction: Sinner to win in three sets

Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev are set for an exciting semifinal clash in Cincinnati, where both players have shown remarkable form. Ranked World No. 1, Sinner has a 21-2 record on hard courts this season and his overall win-loss record also shows an impressive 52-15 number. He has fired 10 aces in his last match and won 84% of points on his first serve. Sinner’s aggressive play led to six breaks against Rublev as he saved four out of five break points. His season highlights include winning his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open and a Masters 1000 title in Miami.

On the other hand, Zverev has a 23-7 record on hard courts in 2024. He blasted 10 aces against Ben Shelton and won 81% of his first-serve points. However, he was seen struggling with break point conversion as he managed to break Shelton only once out of eight opportunities. Zverev acknowledged the challenge, saying, “Conditions and the interruptions were tough, but Ben was the toughest part of the match.”

With Sinner’s superior hard-court record and commendable runs in the ongoing season, he is slightly overpowered against Zverev. Fans can expect a close contest where Sinner’s consistency and aggressive style on the surface would make him the favorite to win in three sets.