The Montreal Rogers Cup will be the first big lead-up tournament, on the men’s side, until the US Open kicks off later this month. Day 1 will feature some exciting players such as this year’s Australian Open semifinalist, Lucas Pouille, and fresh off his Hamburg title, Nikoloz Basilashvili. Home favourites Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov will also be in action to start their Montreal campaign. (We also have predictions for more Montreal Day 1 matches.)
ATP Montreal Rogers Cup Day 1 Predictions
Marton Fucsovics vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-head: Norrie leads 1-0
Both players have been up and down all season, and have struggled to win back-to-back matches in the majority of the tournaments they have played in.
Their only meeting came in Monte Carlo on clay just a few months ago, and with Montreal being on a hard court, this match-up will be completely different to the one they played at the Monte Carlo Country Club.
Fucsovics will be the more dangerous opponent here at Montreal as he would have learned a lot in the Monte Carlo match. The Hungarian will know what to do to avoid repeating what happened to him a few months ago.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 3
Denis Shapovalov vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert
Head-to-head: 1-1 tied
Shapovalov has really struggled with consistency for the past four months. The 20-year-old is currently on a five-match losing streak and has only won one match out his last six.
The young talented Canadian will sure be hoping to use the Montreal Rogers Cup, his home tournament to revive his season and get some good form before the US Open.
Despite the Canadian’s poor form, he seems to bring his best at home, as he famously beat Rafael Nadal in the same tournament a few years ago. If the crowd can get behind him, it could pull him through to the next round.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 3
Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Dusan Lajovic
Head-to-head: Basilashvili leads 3-1
Both players come into this tournament in good form. For Lajovic, he won his maiden title in Umag last month, but struggled to back up the result with early exits in Gstaad and Kitzbuhel.
Basilashvili, meanwhile, successfully defended his title in Hamburg by beating Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev along the way.
It should be a close encounter considering both players good run of form recently. However, the Georgian, Basilashvili comes in with a slight advantage from their head-to-head record. He will come into this match knowing what the keys are to beat Lajovic and what works or doesn’t work against him.
Prediction: Basilashvili in 3
Milos Raonic vs Lucas Pouille
Head-to-head: Raonic leads 3-2
Lucas Pouille has already beaten Milos Raonic once this year at the Australian Open. But since then, the Frenchman seems to have lost his rhythm on court, as he has been unable to back up any good results since his good run in Melbourne.
Raonic, a former finalist here at the Rogers Cup, has recently come back from a back injury. But he should get past the Frenchman in the opening round here. The 28-year-old Canadian will be difficult to get beaten as the crowd will be willing him on to advance in the later rounds.
Prediction: Raonic in 2
Main photo from Getty
