Dominic Thiem will be looking to get back on track when he kicks off his Toronto campaign on Wednesday against Kevin Anderson. Meanwhile, Canadian wild card Denis Shapovalov is back in action to face Grigor Dimitrov.
(6) Dominic Thiem vs. Kevin Anderson
Has the gas tank finally hit empty for Dominic Thiem? With a 48-14 record, the 22-year-old Austrian has played and won more matches than anyone else on the ATP Tour in 2016. The good news is that Thiem’s hot streak included four titles and a semifinal run at Roland Garros, but it’s safe to say his scorching form is now a thing of the past. Thiem, who registers at No. 9 in the world, fell in the Wimbledon second round to Jiri Vesely and lost his Kitzbuhel opener to 35-year-old Jurgen Melzer.
Thiem may not have an easy time adding to his win total on Wednesday at the Rogers Cup. He is line for a fifth career showdown against Kevin Anderson, who is a perfect 4-0 in the head-to-head series. Anderson is 3-0 at Thiem’s expense on outdoor hard courts, a record that is highlighted by a 6-3, 7-6(3), 7-6(3) triumph in the third round of last summer’s U.S. Open. The 6’8” South African most recently prevailed 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 7-6(5) last fall indoors in Paris. Anderson’s 2016 season, however, has been plagued by injury. The world No. 34 is still a horrendous 6-11 after getting the best of Viktor Troicki 7-6(4), 6-3 on Monday. Anderson also has not yet played an opponent ranked better than 15th this entire year, so he he may not be physically ready for this kind of competition level.
Pick: Thiem in 3
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Grigor Dimitrov vs. (WC) Denis Shapovalov
Shapovalov captured the junior Wimbledon singles title earlier this month and he is using that momentum to waste no time making a name for himself at the ATP level. The 17-year-old Canadian played in a main-tour event last week in Washington, D.C. and took a set off Lukas Lacko before losing in three. Shapovalov picked up the first ATP victory of his career on Monday night, when he took advantage of an out-of-sorts Nick Kyrgios to pull off a 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3 upset.
Up next the world No. 370 is Dimitrov, in what will obviously be their first-ever encounter. The 40th-ranked Bulgarian has mostly been a disaster since losing the Istanbul final on a point penalty, but he at least managed to reach the Wimbledon third round. Dimitrov’s hard-court summer started with an opening loss in Washington, D.C. to Daniel Evans before he scraped past Yuichi Sugita 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-4 on Monday afternoon in Toronto. Although this is an extremely winnable match for Shapovalov, he is facing an opponent who is starved for some victories–whereas Kyrgios in the first round clearly lacked the motivation level necessary to win on the pro tour.
Pick: Dimitrov in 3
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DIMITROV VS. SHAPOVALOV could go either way. Theim might get the better of Anderson who is prone to errors.
As much as I would love to see young Shapovalov win, I think Dimitrov will. I said in the poll in 3 sets but if am being brutally honest, think that Grigor will take it in 3. In the meantime must check my lottery ticket – tomorrow night both Milos and Denis are playing.
Meant Grigor in 2.
Dimi seems to have lost his mojo, he seems to be playing defensive tennis nowadays.
Dimitrov in three but Shapovalov has a pretty good shot considering Dimitrov’s form. And I think Thiem takes it in 3 but I’m unsure about that match. I think it could go many different ways though as both guys are a bit unsure for me cuz Thiem has played so much and just lost to melzer and Anderson is still not really back from the injury though he still has his serve and the h2h edge. Both of these could be very good matches for sure.
Thiem in 3 (jinxing Ricky here since I’m really bad at predictions)
Shopovalov in 3. The way Grisha’s been going lately he’d have trouble beating his grandmother. (giving Ricky a break by disagreeing :))
I watched the Grigor match, was so loose, against any other player with a bit more experience and better second serve, he would have lost in straights… Having said that, I think he will come through this match in 2
Anderson vs Thiem, flip a coin… landed on Heads so Thiem will win, not sure in how many but he will come right
The young kid was impressive vs Kyrios, but Dtrov in straight, and Anderson resurging…will win in straight!
So you saying Kevin for the win if I’m not mistaken Scoot?
He has Kevin, yep
Such evaluation of Gasquet from the bookmakers is understandable. The Frenchman lost his two previous encounters in a row to Monaco and Nadal, which is a sign of a bad form from Richard.