The 2019 Rogers Cup will miss two of the biggest names in tennis after Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic withdrew from participating this year. But even with those two names out, there is plenty of talent in the men’s Masters 1000, like current champ Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Kei Nishikori.
The women’s side is considered a Premier 5 tournament on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour. All the big names on the tour are expected to be in Canada, including the current Wimbledon champion Simona Halep. Other big names like Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Sloane Stephens and Angelique Kerber, are also expected to take the court in Montreal.
When and where is the 2019 Rogers Cup played?
The 139th Rogers Cup or Canadian Masters will be played on outdoor hard courts from August 5th to August 11th. The men will perform at the Aviva Centre in Toronto while the women will go at it at the IGA Stadium in Montréal.
The tournament is the third oldest in professional tennis, only behind Wimbledon and the US Open, both Grand Slam competitions. The current champion of the tournament is Rafael Nadal, who took down Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2018 final. On the women’s side is Simona Halep after defeating Sloane Stephens.
Who are the 2019 Rogers Cup favorites on the men’s side?
Only one of the three-headed monster on the tennis men’s side will be on display in Toronto. That will allow many other names to try to win a Master 1000 while getting ready for the last Grand Slam of the season, the US Open. Let’s review the favorites:
Rafael Nadal
With the withdraw of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, the Spaniard comes in as the big favorite to win the Rogers Cup. Nadal reached the semifinal in Wimbledon before losing in four sets to Roger Federer. The best thing coming out of that matchup was watching Nadal like his old-self, without giving up to the injuries that bothered him in the past.
Nadal is 37-6 this season adding two single titles in 2019 to his extended winning resume. He hasn’t won a tournament on hardcourt this year. but after taking a good look at his form in Wimbledon, he shouldn’t have any problems getting far in Canada.
Dominic Thiem
The Austrian Dominic Thiem is Nadal’s most significant challenge during the clay season, but can he be as dangerous on the hard court? Thiem is one of those names that are close to making a jump to becoming a superstar. In fact, many are expecting him to take the lead after Federer and Nadal retire.
Dominic Thiem comes to Toronto with something to prove after getting eliminated in the first round during Wimbledon. Many want to make him an exclusive clay player, but he refuses to be labeled that way. Thiem is 23-10 this season with two singles championships earned, but both wins were on clay. Last year he was eliminated in the second round, so there is plenty to prove.
Alexander Zverev
Just like Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev comes into this Masters 1000 trying to have a better performance than what he showed in Wimbledon. His camp did not expect a first-round exit. He knows he’s better than that. Last season he reached the quarterfinals in Canada before getting eliminated by Tsitsipas.
Alexander Zverev is the third seed in this tournament but is not considered one of the favorites to win this Masters 1000. He might be the player with the most value coming to the Rogers Cup because he can win the title, despite the low expectations.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas is one of the most exciting characters in the ATP tour. He’s just 20 years old but might be one of the most talented players in the world already. Tsitsipas needs to find steadiness to keep a high-level every time he enters a court.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has already reached two Master 1000 finals but lost both. Last year, he failed against Rafa Nadal in two sets precisely in Canada. He has the talent and the stamina to put it together again and finish what he couldn’t in 2018.
Kei Nishikori
The Japanese Kei Nishikori has been around for about seven to eight years, so he’s not new at this. Nishikori is very talented but hasn’t been able to finish a tournament on top. He has zero career titles, and although he played well in Wimbledon, it’s hard to trust a guy who doesn’t seem to have winning gen.
Who are the 2019 Rogers Cup favorites on the women’s side?
The WTP tour is up for grabs to any player that wants it. What it used to be a tour where Serena Williams dominated easily, it’s not that way anymore. Williams is closer to getting back to her old level, but she’s not quite there, and that makes the WTA tour fun to watch.
Let’s take a look at the favorites:
Simona Halep
The current Canadian Master Champion comes to this tournament not only with the idea to win it in back-to-back years, but with a different aura after winning Wimbledon. Simona Halep played arguably the best tennis of her career during the Wimbledon final against Serena. She’s now looked at as a Grand Slam champ. She commands more respect from now on.
A possible win at the Rogers Cup for Halep, and right after Wimbledon’s triumph will set the tone for rest of the season. If she makes it happen, the Romanian will be the favorite to win the US Open.
Serena Williams
Serena is not where she wants to be, but she’s awfully close. After the birth of her daughter, the performance at Wimbledon was by far the best she has put together. The stamina and endurance were there, which were the issue early in the season. Simona Halep had to play a perfect game to take the crown away from Williams, and that says a lot. A win at the Master 1000 in Montreal will help Serena’s chances to add another Grand Slam at New York in September.
Ashleigh Barty
The WTA tour has Ashleigh Barty at the top of the ranking, but she’s not getting the respect she might deserve. She won the US Open last season and has proven to be a great player on outdoor courts. The momentum is on Simona Halep. The best player overall is Serena Williams. But Barty might be the best suited to win on this court because of her playing style.
What is the prize money for the 2019 Roger Cup winners?
The prize money for the is a total of $3,712,840 shared between the winners. Last season, Rafal Nadal took $1,020,425 home along with side 1000 points for the ATP tour. The women will share $1,800,935 during the entire tournament. Simona Halep earned a paycheck of $519,480 in 2018 and 900 points.
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About the Author
Alonzo Solano
Sports Analyst and Content Writer
Alonzo is a Sports Betting Analyst and casino games enthusiast who has covered Football extensively at SBS, but don’t be surprised if you read him on other sports. He's the host of the NFL Latino TV podcast.
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