Cincinnati Open Predictions 2026: Zverev & Sabalenka Favoured

Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka are considered the leading contenders for the 2026 Cincinnati Open.

The men's tournament will be without top-ranked Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, as well as Alexander Bublik. On the women's side, notable absentees include Hailey Baptiste, Jasmine Paolini, Victoria Mboko, and Emma Raducanu.

Men's Draw Analysis

With Sinner and Alcaraz absent, the men's field appears highly competitive and open. Many seeded players, including Zverev, Alex de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, and Taylor Fritz, saw early exits in the Canadian Open. Ben Shelton was the sole top 12 seed to advance to the quarterfinals in Canada.

Taylor Fritz, who won the event in Washington, enters as the seventh seed. The rapidly improving Rafael Jódar reached the finals in the capital and has advanced to the Canadian Open quarterfinals with dominant straight-set victories over Lorenzo Musetti and Jiří Lehečka.

Jódar secured a title in Casablanca earlier this year and has consistently demonstrated his potential as a serious contender. However, his limited success against top 10 opponents might make it challenging to back him to win the Cincinnati title.

Arthur Fils, a 22-year-old French player, has reached the semifinals in Miami and the quarterfinals at Indian Wells this year, achieving two victories against top 10 players. He has displayed strong form and is set to face Jódar in the Montreal quarterfinals. He should not be overlooked for this tournament.

The favorites in betting markets are not guaranteed to win in Cincinnati, especially with Sinner and Alcaraz out. It's advisable to explore longer odds for potential value. Jódar, Fils, and Fritz are players worth considering.

Women's Draw Analysis

Aryna Sabalenka's inconsistent form continued with a fourth-round loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova in Toronto. The world number one has not reached a final since March in Miami and appears less dominant than earlier in the year.

Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva also experienced early eliminations in Canada. In Washington, Pegula was a finalist, while Elina Svitolina was defeated by Alexandra Eala. Naomi Osaka, showing signs of returning to form, reached the semifinals in Washington and faces a compelling matchup against Elena Rybakina in Toronto.

Rybakina's current form is difficult to assess. Her progress in the Canadian Open suggests a resurgence, but the powerful 27-year-old has not achieved significant results since her victory in Stuttgart in April. Rybakina has the capability to defeat any opponent on her best day; the question is whether she can sustain that level in Cincinnati.

Eala's performance in Washington should provide confidence. While she didn't entirely falter in Toronto, her defeat to Belinda Bencic was decisive.

Sabalenka and Rybakina were the standout hard-court players earlier in the season. However, neither is in peak form entering this event. Consequently, at least ten players could realistically believe they have a chance to win in Cincinnati.

Coco Gauff is expected to be a strong contender. Pegula demonstrated good play in Washington. Elina Svitolina has recorded wins against Anastasia Potapova and Amanda Anisimova in Toronto.

Predicting the outcome of this tournament is highly challenging. Svitolina certainly offers value, and Marta Kostyuk is also worth considering, despite her fourth-round exit against Iga Świątek in Canada.

English Translation:

Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka are favored in tennis betting ahead of the 2026 Cincinnati Open.

The men's draw is missing the world's top two players, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, along with veteran Alexander Bublik. On the women's side, Hailey Baptiste, Jasmine Paolini, Victoria Mboko, and Emma Raducanu are among the prominent names who have withdrawn from the event.

Men's

With Sinner and Alcaraz sidelined, the men's draw is exceptionally open. Zverev, Alex de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, and Taylor Fritz were eliminated in the second or third round of the Canadian Open. Ben Shelton was the only top 12 seed to reach the last eight of the competition.

Fritz won in Washington and enters this event as the seventh seed. The ascendant Rafael Jódar was a finalist in the capital and has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open thanks to straight-set wins over Lorenzo Musetti and Jiří Lehečka.

Jódar won in Casablanca earlier this year and has repeatedly proven he must be taken seriously as a contender. However, only one win against a top 10 player makes it difficult to back the Spaniard to go all the way in Cincinnati.

A semifinalist in Miami and a quarterfinalist at Indian Wells, 22-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils has two wins against top 10 players this year. He has played some good tennis this year and will face Jódar in the last eight in Montreal. Do not write him off heading into this one.

The betting favorites are fallible in Cincinnati. Anyone can win an ATP 1000 event when Sinner and Alcaraz are on the sidelines, so it's worth looking at longer odds options when trying to identify value. Jódar, Fils, and Fritz are names to consider.

Women's

Sabalenka's inconsistent form continued with a fourth-round defeat to Ekaterina Alexandrova in Toronto. The world number one has not reached a final since Miami back in March and appears far more vulnerable than she did earlier in the year.

Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva also suffered premature exits in Canada. In Washington, Pegula was a finalist, while Elina Svitolina was beaten by Alexandra Eala. Naomi Osaka, who appears to have found some form, reached the last four in Washington and has a tantalizing matchup with Elena Rybakina in Toronto.

It's hard to know what to make of Rybakina. This run in the Canadian Open suggests she's back on track, but the big-serving 27-year-old hasn't had a strong showing since she won in Stuttgart back in April. We know Rybakina is capable of beating anyone on her day – can she put it all together in Cincinnati?

Eala's success in Washington should stand her in good stead. It's not like she completely flopped in Toronto, though the defeat to Belinda Bencic was emphatic.

Sabalenka and Rybakina were in a league of their own on the hard courts earlier this season. Neither of them is in the best form heading into this one. As a result, there are at least 10 players who can realistically believe they can go all the way in Cincinnati.

Coco Gauff, for instance, is going to be in the mix. Pegula played well in Washington. Elina Svitolina has beaten Anastasia Potapova and Amanda Anisimova in Toronto.

It's a very difficult tournament to call. Svitolina certainly represents value, and it's worth considering Marta Kostyuk, even after a fourth-round exit at the hands of Iga Świątek in Canada.