The 2026 tennis season is fully into the North American hard-court swing, and this week brings our final 1000-level tune-up event with the ATP and WTA Tour stops in Cincinnati. With the US Open now on the horizon, this is where contenders continue to separate, dialing in their timing, adjusting to quicker conditions, and building real momentum against elite fields.
This tournament carries significant weight on both tours, giving us a strong read on form, fitness, and potential title paths heading into New York. There’s no shortage of high-level matches to break down, so we’ll have plenty to work with as the week unfolds. That said, I’ll be posting my tennis best bets daily.
With that in mind, keep reading for my tennis best bets for the Cincinnati Open on Wednesday, August 19.
NOTE: Gill Alexander, host of A Numbers Game, posts a bunch of tennis plays to the VSiN picks page. He does a great job handicapping tennis. That page is also where I post all of my Challenger-level picks + plays for all of the tournaments I’m not writing up daily.
Rafael Jodar vs. Flavio Cobolli
Arthur Fils vs. Alex de Minaur
Cobolli really should be out by now. Alexander Blockx had him beat last match, but the 21-year-old couldn’t close the door. Cobolli now carries his mediocre form into yet another round, and this really should be the spot his run ends. If Jodar has any weakness on a tennis court right now, it’s his inconsistent serving. However, Cobolli has the same issue. That means the Italian likely won’t be able to put his head down, handle his business, and make Jodar pay for any sloppy service games. The Spaniard should get back whatever he gives away. And honestly, when looking at their overall games, Jodar is the more complete player — even at 19 years old.
Realistically, backing Jodar doesn’t get me much with the Spaniard being just about -300 to win. However, it can bring de Minaur from -161 to +111 when it comes to taking a set off Fils. That’s something I want a piece of.
De Minaur has had a rough go at things lately, and his inability to hold leads has been concerning. However, it does feel like the market has swung a little too much with Fils now a significant favorite over the Australian. De Minaur should be able to hold up pretty well from the baseline, where I actually like his physicality to wear on a previously-injured Fils. I also like the Australian to consistently be in Fils’ service games.
PARLAY: Jodar ML & de Minaur +1.5 Sets (+111)
Added Plays
I usually have A LOT MORE on the Pro Picks page. Those plays count towards my record and have been a big part of my success this season. Make sure you check them out. I’ll probably add a few more over there, so refresh that page throughout the day if you’re looking for action.
