Dusan Lajovic vs Taylor Fritz prediction and odds: Cincinnati Open 2023

Dusan Lajovic, a qualifier from Serbia, is having quite a run at the Western & Southern Open. He’s already won four matches to reach the third round, and his reward is a clash with Taylor Fritz, the 9th seed. So, what will the outcome of this match be, and which markets have the most enticing odds? Find out below.

These odds from Ladbrokes were correct at the time of writing.

Lajovic vs Fritz – match predictions

Dusan Lajovic has put in a pretty solid shift in Cincinnati. After winning two rounds in qualifying to reach the main draw, he has since won another two matches to reach the third round. In contrast, Taylor Fritz has won just two matches given that he is one of the top Cincinnati Open seeds. Of course, this shows that the two guys are worlds apart in terms of ATP rankings, as Fritz is 9 in the world while Lajovic is 66.

Anyway, facts and figures aside, what are the best tennis predictions today for this contest? Let me show you right now.

Lajovic to win a set – yes

I must admit, I was shocked at the level of tennis that Dusan Lajovic produced in the previous round. In case you missed the result, he took out the Canadian Open champion and 8th seed, Jannik Sinner – in straight sets, I might add. He also beat Francisco Cerundolo in the opening round, which is another big win. Therefore, I can certainly see him grabbing a set against Fritz.

Lajovic +4.5 games handicap

There are pundits out there who feel that Taylor Fritz has a game that is simply too big for Lajovic to cause him any issues. However, it’s fair to say that Sinner is one of the biggest hitters on tour, and Lajovic just beat him in straights. Another interesting element is the fact that Lajovic has beaten Fritz in the past, so I feel a +4.5 games handicap is a good play.

Lajovic vs Fritz preview

With this match approaching quickly, let me cover a preview for each player before the action begins.

Dusan Lajovic preview

Lajovic is 33 years of age, so he’s been around the block in tennis terms. And at the moment, he is ranked 66 in the world compared with Fritz’s top 10 ranking. With that said, he is playing some of his top tennis at the Western & Southern Open, and he certainly has the game to cause problems for the American number one. 

Taylor Fritz preview

Given the way that Fritz plays, there are great expectations for him to perform when it comes to hard-court tournaments. Yet he hasn’t always dealt with the pressure well when competing on home soil. Additionally, he lost in the third round last week at the Canadian Open, and he looked vulnerable against Sonego in his last round too. 

Lajovic vs Fritz head to head

Interestingly, the head-to-head for these two guys is 1-0 in favor of Dusan Lajovic. Yet this encounter was all the way back in 2018, and it was played on clay. Then again, it was Lajovic that won in straight sets.

• Match Schedule – August 18th, 00:15 GMT
• Venue – Cincinnati, USA
• Viewing Options – Amazon Prime