Tommy Paul vs Pedro Martinez Live: Cincinnati Open Time, How to Watch & Odds

American No. 1 Tommy Paul enters the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati looking to cement his status as a genuine US Open contender after a career-best surge to world No. 8 earlier this summer. Paul opens his Cincinnati campaign on 9 August against Spain’s Pedro Martínez in a first-round clash that pits baseline aggression against clay-court consistency. The head-to-head stands at 1-0 in favor of the American, who beat Martínez on hard courts two years ago, and oddsmakers again list Paul as the clear favorite. Key storylines to watch • Momentum swing: Paul captured his fourth ATP title in Eastbourne and backed it up with a Wimbledon quarter-final, racking up a 14-3 record since June. • Ranking pressure: With 360 points to defend from last year’s Cincinnati semi-final, the 27-year-old must at least reach the quarter-finals to avoid slipping in the Race to Turin. • Serve-plus-forehand combo: Paul leads the Tour in first-serve points won (78 %) on outdoor hard courts since April, a weapon that should trouble Martínez’s return game. • Home-court boost: Cincinnati historically rewards aggressive baseliners; nine of the last 12 champions have averaged more than 25 winners per match, a metric Paul regularly reaches. What’s at stake A deep run would give Paul a realistic shot at cracking the top five before arriving in New York, where no American man has lifted the US Open trophy since Andy Roddick in 2003. Coach Brad Stine has stressed the importance of “owning the big moments,” something Paul struggled with in last year’s Masters events, where he went 4-5 in deciding sets. Match-up preview Martínez, ranked No. 72, thrives on longer rallies and heavy topspin but owns just three Tour-level wins on hard courts this season. Expect Paul to dictate with early ball-striking, forcing Martínez wide on the ad-court to open forehand winners into the open court. If the Spaniard fails to push Paul behind the baseline, the contest could be brief. Looking ahead Should Paul advance, a potential second-round date with 2024 champion Alexander Zverev awaits, offering an early litmus test for his title credentials. Win that and the draw could clear for a semi-final showdown with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. With home crowds behind him and form peaking, Tommy Paul’s Cincinnati week could either ignite a headline summer or expose lingering frailties. On paper—and on recent hard-court stats—the smart money rides with the American to keep his breakout season rolling.