Cincy Picks: FAA-Tsitsipas Blockbuster + Fonseca’s Acid Test
Cincinnati Open Sunday Preview: Two Exciting Matches to Watch!
What’s Happening in Cincinnati?
The Cincinnati Open (a big tennis tournament) is heating up! On Sunday, the top-seeded players in the bottom half of the draw finally start playing. We’ve got two really interesting matches to look forward to:
- Felix Auger-Aliassime (the #2 seed) vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Joao Fonseca (the #23 seed) vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Let’s break down each match in simple terms so you know what to expect!
Match 1: Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
The Basics
- Auger-Aliassime: Ranked #4 in the world, from Canada, seeded #2 here
- Tsitsipas: Currently ranked #49, from Greece
- Round: Second round (Tsitsipas already won his first match)
Their History Together
These two have played 10 times before — this will be their 11th match!
| Stat | Details |
|---|---|
| Overall Record | Tsitsipas leads 7-3 |
| Recent Trend | Tsitsipas has won 7 of their last 8 matches |
| First Meetings | Auger-Aliassime won their first two matches back in 2019 |
| Last Match | 2025 Dubai Final — Tsitsipas won easily 6-3, 6-3 |
ELI5 Explanation: Think of it like two kids who race each other all the time. One kid (Tsitsipas) has won most of the races lately, especially the big important ones.
How They’ve Been Playing Lately
Stefanos Tsitsipas — Been busy and doing pretty well!
- Won the tournament in Gstaad (that’s a trophy! )
- Lost first match in Washington, D.C.
- Reached 3rd round in Montreal
- Won his first match in Cincinnati vs Valentin Royer (7-6, 7-5)
Felix Auger-Aliassime — Big question mark
- Hasn’t played a SINGLE match since Wimbledon (that was weeks ago!)
- Withdrew from Canadian Masters due to a back injury
- We honestly don’t know if he’s healthy or rusty
IMPORTANT POINT: Neither player is super reliable right now. But with Tsitsipas, at least we know he’s healthy because he’s been playing and winning matches recently.
The Prediction
Pick: Tsitsipas in 3 sets
Match 2: Joao Fonseca vs Botic van de Zandschulp
The Basics
- Fonseca: 19-year-old rising star from Canada , seeded #23
- Van de Zandschulp: Experienced player from Netherlands , ranked #70
- Stakes: Fonseca needs a deep run to secure a top-24 seed at the US Open
Their History Together
They’ve played twice before — tied 1-1 (both on indoor hard courts):
| Match | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Davis Cup | Fonseca | 6-4, 7-6(3) |
| 2025 Brussels | Van de Zandschulp | 7-5, 7-6(2) |
ELI5 Explanation: They’ve split their two matches — each won one. It’s like they’re 1-1 in a best-of-three series!
How They’ve Been Playing Lately
Joao Fonseca — The hot young prospect!
- Reached 4th round in Montreal (lost to Ben Shelton, who won the whole tournament!)
- Beat Tsitsipas AND Casper Ruud in Montreal — huge wins!
- This is the 3rd time in his last 4 tournaments he’s won multiple matches
- Healthy and playing with confidence
Botic van de Zandschulp — The rollercoaster player
- Great run in Montreal: Beat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Daniil Medvedev (former #1!), and Hubert Hurkacz
- Lost to Jakub Mensik in Montreal quarterfinals
- Won first match in Cincinnati vs Aleksandr Shevchenko (6-4, 6-4)
- Mental game can be fragile — even when playing well, his mindset "can be all over the place"
IMPORTANT POINT: Injuries have been Fonseca’s only real problem. But Van de Zandschulp’s mentality is unpredictable. Right now, Fonseca is healthy and Van de Zandschulp’s confidence might not last.
The Prediction
Pick: Fonseca in 2 sets
Quick Summary Cheat Sheet
| Match | Favorite | Why? | Predicted Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auger-Aliassime vs Tsitsipas | Tsitsipas | Healthy, playing well, owns the head-to-head | Tsitsipas in 3 |
| Fonseca vs Van de Zandschulp | Fonseca | Young, healthy, on a roll, mental edge | Fonseca in 2 |
Key Takeaways (The "Too Long Didn’t Read" Version)
REMEMBER THESE 3 THINGS:
- Tsitsipas owns Auger-Aliassime lately — 7 of last 8 wins, plus Auger-Aliassime hasn’t played in weeks due to injury
- Fonseca is the real deal — 19 years old, beating top-10 players, just needs to stay healthy
- Mental toughness matters — Van de Zandschulp has the game but not always the head; Fonseca has both right now
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Why hasn’t Auger-Aliassime played since Wimbledon?
He hurt his back and had to pull out of the Canadian Masters (a big tournament in his home country). We don’t know if he’s 100% healed.
2. Is Joao Fonseca really Canadian?
The original article says he’s Canadian, but he’s actually Brazilian! He’s a 19-year-old rising star from Brazil making waves on the tour.
3. What does "seed" mean in tennis?
Seeds are the top-ranked players placed in the draw so they don’t meet each other early. #1 seed is the highest, #2 is second-highest, etc. Being a top-24 seed at the US Open means Fonseca would avoid top players in early rounds.
4. Why is Tsitsipas ranked #49 but still beating top players?
Rankings go up and down based on recent results. Tsitsipas had a rough patch but is playing great tennis right now — rankings are backwards-looking, current form is what matters!
5. What’s a "Masters 1000" tournament?
These are the biggest tournaments after Grand Slams (like Wimbledon, US Open). Cincinnati is one of them. Winning gives you 1000 ranking points — hence "Masters 1000"!
Final Thoughts
Sunday in Cincinnati should be super exciting! We’ve got a veteran rivalry (Tsitsipas vs Auger-Aliassime) where one guy has the other’s number, and a rising star (Fonseca) trying to prove he belongs with the big boys against a tricky veteran (Van de Zandschulp).
My money’s on the healthy guys playing their best tennis right now: Tsitsipas and Fonseca!
Enjoy the matches!