Cincinnati Open: Diego Schwartzman vs. Frances Tiafoe 8/18/21 Tennis Prediction

Tenth seeded Diego Schwartzman of Argentina faces American Frances Tiafoe in the Second Round of the 2021 Cincinnati Open. The match is scheduled to be played on Wednesday August 18th, 2021 at approximately 7:00pm EST.

A hugely entertaining match is expected as Diego Schwartzman meets Frances Tiafoe for a spot in the Round of 16 here at the 2021 Cincinnati Open. This is a match that tennis fans will not want to miss, as these are two of the most exciting and popular players on the ATP Tour. Schwartzman is the higher ranked player, but Tiafoe tends to save his best tennis for when he’s on home soil. This highly anticipated match can really go either way, who will hold their nerve and get the win here in Cincinnati?

Diego Schwartzman is the tenth seed here at the 2021 Cincinnati Open and is currently ranked #14 in the ATP world rankings. The Argentine is small in stature but has a huge heart and a big game. His “never say die” attitude has made him a firm crown favorite wherever he plays, and while he favors clay, he is a threat on hard courts also. Schwartzman had a very tense First Round win over Dan Evans, in a match full of momentum swings. His major weapons are his elite movement and footwork, and weaknesses are his size which sometimes causes him to get overpowered by his opponents. He may struggle a bit with his opponent Frances Tiafoe’s power, but his counter-punching style should match up well with the American’s game. This is set to be a huge battle that can go either way, but Schwartzman should be considered the favorite here.

Frances Tiafoe is unseeded here at the 2021 Cincinnati Open and is ranked #51 on the ATP Tour. The American is one of the most entertaining players on tour, and like his opponent Diego Schwartzman is a huge fan favorite. Tiafoe has a very explosive game and has proven time and time again that he is capable of competing with the world’s best. His main issue has been his consistency, and he has struggled to string wins together. He was outstanding in his First Round win over Ugo Humbert, in a match that he was the underdog. Tiafoe served extremely well in that match, and was able to hold his nerve in the key moments to defeat a higher ranked opponent. While he is the underdog here against Schwatzman he definitely has the tools to cause the upset here if things go his way.

This is the second career meeting between the two players, with Schwartzman winning earlier this year in Barcelona. That match was a tough three setter on the Argentine’s preferred clay surface, showing that the American certainly is capable of winning on hard courts. While Diego Schwartzman is the much higher ranked player, we are backing Frances Tiafoe to cause the upset here. He is in inspired form at the moment, and his power will be difficult to deal with on this quicker surface. Schwartzman is a fighter so it will likely go to three sets, but I think that the American will be able to get the close win here at home, advancing to the Round of 16 at the Cincinnati Open.