The US Open Hard Court gathers pace in earnest as both the ATP and WTA Tours roll into Toronto and Montreal in what promises to be a fascinating week in Canada. Here are our top Rogers Cup 2019 betting tips.
Tournament History
Also known as the Canadian Open, it is the third-oldest tournament in world tennis – with only Wimbledon and the US Open holding events for longer. The first tournament was held in 1881and was originally played on grass courts but moved to become a hard court event in the 1970s as part of the US Open summer series of tournaments.
Format
The event is both an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA Premier 5 Event and is one of the flagship events on the world tennis calendar for both male and female players. It’s played over one week – like most premier events on the tours meaning fans can expect to see some of the world’s best players in action throughout the week.
Both draws feature 64 players meaning the world’s elite are all in action in Canada this week.
Venue
The men’s event takes place at the IGA Stadium in Montreal whilst the women’s event is held in Toronto at the Aviva Centre.
Dates
Monday 5th August – Sunday 11th August 2019
Previous Winners (Men’s)
With its’ fabled history, this is the 139th edition of the Canadian Open meaning many of the biggest names in the history of the game have won the Rogers Cup in the past. Ivan Lendl holds the record for the most wins in Toronto with 6 trophies in 10 years whilst recently crowned Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic has won 4 titles in Toronto so far in his career. Other big names to have claimed the title are Andy Murray (3), Andre Agassi (3) and Roger Federer (2). Rafael Nadal is the defending champion in Montreal – with the Mallorcan picking up his 4th Rogers Cup in 2018 – defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
Previous Winners (Women’s)
The women’s event is 127 years old and too has had its fair share of big-name winners over its long history. Monica Seles shares the record in the open era with 4 tournament wins – consecutively between 1995-98- as has Chris Evert, whilst serial Grand Slam winners Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova have won the Canadian Open 3 times each.
Fellow big names Justine Henin, Steffi Graf, Amelie Mauresmo and Martina Hingis have won the title on two occasions apiece. 2019 Wimbledon champion, Simona Halep picked up the trophy last year and she will be one of the favourites to defend her crown this week.
2019 Tournament Preview
Men’s:
The absence of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer is the headline news at the Rogers Cup this week meaning Rafael Nadal will be the top seed in Montreal.
2017 champion Alexander Zverev won’t arrive in the best of form but is always one to watch as is last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. Austrian Dominic Thiem is enjoying a superb season and already has a hard court Masters 1000 title to his name in 2019 whilst the likes of Kei Nishikori, John Isner and Citi Open champion Nick Kyrgios should never be discarded.
Women’s:
The biggest names on the WTA Tour once again descend on Toronto with defending champion and Wimbledon winner Simona Halep sure to be one to watch. Fellow 2019 Grand Slam winners Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty will also be looking for form before the US Open with home favourite Sloane Stephens also known for playing her best tennis on hard courts.
Elsewhere, Serena Williams makes her first return to action since Wimbledon whilst 2017 Toronto champion Elina Svitolina will be looking to go well again this week, after her run to the last 4 at SW19.
2019 Rogers Cup Tournament Preview
Men’s Outright Winner Odds:-
The 64 player draw in Montreal is littered with big names as well as young and upcoming prospects on the ATP Tour. The first Masters event of the US Hard Court swing is always very much sought after by the biggest names in tennis with the carrot of confidence and rankings points available with the US Open on the horizon at the end of the month.
Here are some of our favourites for the Montreal title:-
Rafael Nadal – 2/1 (Bwin) –
Defending champion Rafael Nadal has been the figure of consistency across all surfaces this season and he has managed to stay injury-free in the main. In the absence of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic from the draw in Montreal, he is the heavy favourite here and will take some beating.
Alexander Zverev – 11/1 (Betfred) –
The young German has not enjoyed the career trajectory many expected 2019 but the Rogers Cup was very much his breakthrough event on the ATP Tour in 2017. He tends to play his best tennis on hard courts and could benefit from not having to potentially face the likes of Djokovic or Federer in the latter stages.
Stefanos Tsitsipas – 12/1 (William Hill) –
Enigmatic Greek youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas has enjoyed yet another good week on the ATP Tour, reaching the semi-finals at the Citi Open and he is now ranked inside the world’s top 5. He reached the final at this event in 2018 and looks overpriced to go the distance this week.
Dominic Thiem – 12/1 (Betsafe) –
World number 4 Dominic Thiem has been a figure of consistency in 2019 – epitomised by his tournament win in Kitzbuhel last week in front of his home fans. He already has a Masters 1000 title in the bag in America this season (Indian Wells) and he will fancy his chances again here.
Daniil Medvedev– 12/1 (Bet365) –
Hard-hitting Russian Daniil Medvedev looks to be the next in line of #NextGen players to be making their mark on the ATP Tour. He was ousted in the final of the Citi Open by Nick Kyrgios last week but enjoyed yet another solid showing on the US Hard courts and he has broken into the world’s top 10.
Kei Nishikori – 18/1 (Betsafe) –
Japanese superstar Kei Nishikori is somewhat of an injury doubt in Montreal but he will be eager to get out and strut his stuff on his favoured surface. He continues to perform in all the big events, having reached the last 8 at both Wimbledon and the French Open he will be hoping to kick on now and secure a tournament win here.
Nick Kyrgios – 20/1 (888sport) –
Australian firecracker Nick Kyrgios continues to defy logic and his win at the Citi Open last time out was a testament to that. Wins over Tsitsipas and Medvedev are sure to give him confidence and he looked to be enjoying his tennis in Washington. The mystery will lie in which Kyrgios turns up but if he plays his best tennis, he could go all the way here.
Milos Raonic – 20/1 (William Hill) –
Home favourite Milos Raonic will be eager to make an impact in front of the Montreal crowd this year. Disappointing showings at Wimbledon and Washington have curtailed his progress in 2019 but with home support backing him and his big serve firing, he could be a man to avoid this week.
Top Pick – Rafael Nadal – 2/1 (Bwin)
Outside Pick – Nick Kyrgios – 20/1 (888sport)
2019 Rogers Cup Tournament Preview
Women’s Outright Winner Odds:-
Much like the men’s draw, the women’s event in Toronto looks very open and there are plenty of big-name players in the draw. The winners of the three Grand Slams in 2019, Naomi Osaka, Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep headline the field whilst the return of Serena Williams looks to have blown the draw open even wider and it promises to be a fascinating week of tennis.
Here are some of our favourites for the Toronto title:-
Simona Halep– 11/2 (888Sport) –
Wimbledon Champion Simona Halep has long been viewed by many as having the talent to dominate the women’s game and looks to be finally putting that into practice. The manner of her win at SW19 sent a message out to the tennis-playing world that she is here to stay and she is rightfully the favourite here in Toronto.
Ashleigh Barty – 8/1 (Ladbrokes) –
The current World Number 1 and French Open champion Ashleigh Barty is another player in fine form as she arrives in Toronto and she will be hoping to keep her form going through the US hard court swing. Her early exit at Wimbledon has given her time to recuperate and she could arrive in Canada as one to watch this week.
Serena Williams – 8/1 (Guts) –
Three-time Toronto champion Serena Williams will be keen to get into the winner’s enclosure following yet another final loss last time out – at the hands of an inspired Halep at Wimbledon. With a restricted calendar and off-court responsibilities to balance too, Serena will be keen to get plenty of match practise in before the US Open later this month.
Naomi Osaka – 9/1 (Betfred) –
The defending US and Australian Open Champion Naomi Osaka has gone public with her struggles in 2019 but the Japanese superstar continues to blaze a trail at the top of the game. Hardcourt tennis is undoubtedly her favoured surface and she will be keen to let her tennis do the talking in Toronto this week.
Karolina Pliskova – 10/1 (William Hill) –
Karolina Pliskova has become a beacon of consistency on the WTA Tour in recent seasons – without perhaps picking up as many major trophies as she should. The world number 3 suffered a painstaking loss in the last 16 at Wimbledon but she will be back with a point to prove here in Toronto.
Sloane Stephens – 16/1 (Betsson) –
Often overlooked as a front runner in big events, Sloane Stephens will be a force to be reckoned with on hard courts this summer. The 2017 US Open champion has been in patchy form of late, epitomised by her first-round defeat in Washington last week but she could easily string together a run here in Toronto.
Angelique Kerber – 22/1 (888sport) –
2018 Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber has failed to kick on this season in terms of trophies but still remains one of the biggest draws on the WTA Tour. The German has dropped to number 13 in the world but could spring a surprise or two as she is going relatively under the radar here.
Johanna Konta – 30/1 (Bet-at-Home) –
British number one Johanna Konta has been in fine form throughout the summer of 2019 with runs to the last 8 at Wimbledon and last 4 at the French Open boosting her back into the world’s top 15. Her biggest tournament win came on the US Hard Courts (Miami 2017) and she could be one to watch in a congested field in Toronto.
