2016 ATP Rogers Cup Predictions, Picks and Betting Preview
When: July 25-31, 2016
Where: Aviva Centre – Toronto, Canada
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Lines: view all Rogers Cup odds here
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Novak Djokovic
Djokovic just loves ATP Masters 1000 events. He’s 21-2 through the first five ATP Masters 1000 tournaments this season, and has claimed titles in Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid.
The Serb is 11-3 in his career in Toronto, which includes the 2012 title. That was the latest of his three Rogers Cup championships; he lost last year’s final to Andy Murray in Montreal. But he will enter this year’s tournament with a remarkable 28-1 record on hard court this season, with his only “loss” coming after he retired due to an eye infection.
Stan Wawrinka
Stan Wawrinka will be all too happy to put the grass court season behind him. The Swiss slumped to early exits at both the Aegon Championships and Wimbledon. The world No. 5 will now look to redeem himself in Toronto, where he will be the No. 2 seed.
Wawrinka has been excellent on hard court this season. He’s compiled a sparkling record of 14-3, which includes tournament wins in Chennai and Dubai.
However, it should be noted that Wawrinka has had a woeful time in Canada. Despite being a top-three seed in each of the past three years, he’s crashed out in the round of 32 twice and the round of 16 once.
Milos Raonic
Raonic was desperately unlucky during the grass court season. He lost in the final of the Aegon Championship and Wimbledon, falling to world No. 2 Andy Murray on both occasions. However, the 25-year-old Canadian’s luck could make a turn for the better in Toronto after Murray opted not to defend his Rogers Cup title this year.
Of course, Raonic might not need much luck the way he’s been playing on the hard court this season. He’s 17-3 on the surface and claimed his lone title of the year in Brisbane, where he defeated Roger Federer in straight-sets.
Raonic reached the final of the Indian Wells Masters, but lost emphatically to Djokovic. He also has a good history in this tournament. He reached the final of the 2013 Rogers Cup as a 22-year-old 11-seed, but lost to Rafael Nadal.
Sleeper
Nick Kyrgios
Watch out for Nick Kyrgios. The fiery Aussie crashed out in the very first round of his first Masters tournament of the season at Indian Wells, but he made up for it with a semifinal run at the Miami Masters.
The draw turned out to be pretty favorable for Kyrgios in Toronto, which could allow for a relatively easy run deep in the tournament. He’s in line to meet No. 8 seed Marin Cilic in the round of 16. Kyrgios beat Cilic in straight-sets in Marseille to claim his lone title of the season.
No. 3 seed Kei Nishikori also potentially awaits in the quarterfinals. Despite Kyrgios losing all three meetings thus far to the Japanese, Nishikori has struggled with injuries recently, which forced him to exit both Halle and Wimbledon.
Long Shot
Ivo Karlovic
Ivo Karlovic is having himself a moment. The Croatian has now reached consecutive finals after claiming the title in Newport and making a surprise run at the Citi Open. Unfortunately, Karlovic fell in three sets to the younger Gael Monfils.
You’d have to think fatigue will now become a big factor for the 37-year-old, who would need to play the maximum number of matches for the third tournament in as many weeks to win in Toronto. Karlovic also hadn’t been particularly impressive on hard court prior to his run in Washington. He had lost his previous four matches on the surface this year.
But the world No. 35 is playing some of the best tennis around, and should be a worthwhile bet to win it all considering his long odds.
Writer’s Prediction
A fired up Djokovic reigns supreme in Canada once again and claims his fourth Masters title of the season.
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