Balls are still flying in Canada, and yet the 2025 Cincinnati Open has already begun. Who will grab this final opportunity for pre-US Open momentum? We breakdown all you need to know about the action in Cincinnati with a preview of the men’s and women’s draws, including our predictions and top value bets this week.
Men’s Cincinnati Open 2025
Headlines
- Alcaraz and Sinner are back in action for the first time since Wimbledon
- Still no Djokovic or Draper
- Fatigue will be a factor for those who went deep in Toronto
- Cincinnati is one of the fastest outdoor hardcourts on Tour
Betting favorites
- Jannik Sinner @ 2.20 (+120)
- Carlos Alcaraz @ 3.00 (+200)
- Alexander Zverev @ 17.00 (+1600)
- Taylor Fritz @ 19.00 (+1800)
- Daniil Medvedev @ 26.00 (+2500)
Our predictions
While the Canadian Open was a wide open draw with a feeling of opportunity, this event is anything but. As the betting odds indicate, Alcaraz and Sinner are overwhelming favorites to claim the title.
Both are well rested, having skipped Toronto and taken a chunk of time post-Wimbledon to rest and train. With the US Open just over a fortnight away, they’ll both be eager to give their all here and get some good reps in the legs. This combination of freshness, motivation, plus the enormous gulf between them and the rest of the field – particularly with no Draper or Djokovic in the draw – make it hard to see any other outcome here than one of these two winning.
As for which one it will be, our money sits with Sinner. Sure, Alcaraz will be motivated to win after taking his first loss in six matches to the Italian last month. However, this time of the year has proved a little dicey for Alcaraz in the past while it’s Sinner’s bread and butter. The world No 1 has also been excellent at backing up after winning titles and is the more stable quantity in general.
We have a sneaking suspicion that Alcaraz will get one back on Sinner sooner rather than later, but it won’t be here in Cincinnati. Back Sinner to claim his 21st title for a modest return of 2.20 (+120).
Best value bets
If 2.20 (+120) doesn’t get you out of bed in the morning, fair enough. Here are some slightly juicier value bets to consider:
Fonseca to beat Davidovich Fokina @ 2.50 (+150)
Joao Fonseca and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina clash in a second-round match this weekend after the Brazilian bounced back well with a three-set win in his opener on Thursday. The teen is a big momentum player and will be full of confidence after returning to the winners’ circle. Davidovich Fokina, meanwhile, had a heartbreaking loss in the Washington final a fortnight ago, before withdrawing injured in Toronto. The ground is ripe for an upset.
Lehecka to make the semi-finals @ 10.00 (+900)
Jiri Lehecka is another dangerous player lurking in Cincinnati who’s worth a value bet. The Czech sits in the third quarter, which has the likes of Ben Shelton and Karen Khachanov (Toronto finalists who will be fatigued), Daniil Medvedev (woefully out of form) and Zverev (mentally rattled after missing match point in the Toronto semis). It’s a big ask for Lehecka to go all the way, but him winning this quarter is very realistic.
Tiafoe to win @ 41.00 (+4000)
One player that could lift the silverware next weekend is Frances Tiafoe. Big Foe is an entirely different beast when he’s playing on American soil – as evidenced by his run to the final last year, where he took out three top-15 seeds en route, and his host of deep appearances at the US Open. It’s a shot in the dark for sure, but if anyone is going to turn it on and defy the odds, Tiafoe is as good a bet as any to do so.
Women’s Cincinnati Open 2025
Headlines
- Sabalenka is playing for the first time since Wimbledon
- Andreeva is out injured
- This event has had 14 different finalists in its last seven editions
Betting favorites
- Aryna Sabalenka @ 4.75 (+375)
- Iga Swiatek @ 5.00 (+400)
- Coco Gauff @ 8.00 (+700)
- Elena Rybakina @ 13.00 (+1200)
- Naomi Osaka @ 15.00 (+1400)
Our predictions
Contrary to the men’s draw, the women’s Cincinnati Open has a host of viable contenders for the title. Aryna Sabalenka arrives as defending champion and is fresh after taking a break since Wimbledon. Iga Swiatek has been in sharp form, despite an unexpected loss to Clara Tauson in Montreal. Elena Rybakina, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula are regular threats, while Naomi Osaka and Victoria Mboko have just shot into form.
We like both Swiatek and Sabalenka to go deep here. The latter will be focused on finishing the year strong and grabbing that elusive Grand Slam in 2025, while the former is the consummate professional who will have learnt from her dip last week.
Given the mercurial nature of this event in the past, however, don’t be surprised if a dark horse makes a run to the final. There are plenty of strong candidates to do so, with the likes of Linda Noskova, Danielle Collins, Jelena Ostapenko, Amanda Anisimova and Diana Shnaider names to consider. Expect Sabalenka to do what no woman has done in a decade, however, and defend her title.
Best value bets
If backing the title favorite isn’t your speed, then here are two value bets we’d suggest:
Parlay – Mboko and Osaka to lose round two @ odds TBC
Victoria Mboko and Naomi Osaka are the talk of the town at the moment, with the pair both making fairytale runs to the Canada Open final today. For Mboko, it’s her big breakthrough, having been ranked outside the world’s top 400 at the start of the year. For Osaka, it’s her big return, given she’s not been in a WTA 1000 final since 2022.
While both are playing great tennis, expect the come down to be hard. It’s a big ask for either to back up in Cincinnati after the emotion of this week, especially considering they are up against seeds Diana Shnaider and Linda Noskova respectively.
Noskova to make the final @ 21.00 (+2000)
Big names Sabalenka and Swiatek are in the top half of the draw, as are threats Shnaider, Anisimova and Rybakina. In the bottom half, however, don’t be surprised if Noskova strings together a run. The Czech has had some handy results the past two months – including a run to the Prague Open final recently – and is well primed to take advantage of a weaker section of the draw.
