2016 ATP World Tour Finals round robin tips: Thiem to bounce back by beating Monfils
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ATP World Tour Finals round robin tips
Novak Djokovic recovered from a shock first set loss to Dominic Thiem to record victory in the opening singles match of the 2016 ATP World Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena.
Also in the Ivan Lendl Group, Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic dropped just seven games in a straight sets victory over Gael Monfils.
In the other pool, the John McEnroe Group, Kei Nishikori and ATP world number one Andy Murray recorded comprehensive 2-0 wins over respective opposition Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic, losing just five games apiece.
Ahead of the second group matches, Coral tennis experts give their latest ATP World Tour Finals round robin tips…
Thiem odds to beat Monfils
Given the courageous performance bottom seed Thiem gave to take the lead against Djokovic, it is amazing to find him odds against to defeat Monfils at 6/5.
The ever-improving Austrian bested his French foe in their only completed career clash on clay in three sets last year. Thiem v Monfils was due to happen at the Cincinnati Masters this season, but the former won by a walkover due to the latter’s injury.
While a repeat 2-1 win for Thiem is tempting at 10/3, the safer bet is 6/5 for victory regardless of the exact scoreline. The 11/10 price for the Austrian to win the second set also looks worth a wager.
Djokovic handicap betting appeals for Raonic battle
Men’s world number two Djokovic has dropped just a single set to Canada representative Raonic in seven meetings, and that in a tiebreak on clay.
All their hard court encounters went in straight sets to the Serbian racket star, so he’s odds-on in plenty of markets. Getting on the Djokovic handicap betting represents value, though.
Set at -3.5 games, Djokovic is 11/10 to overcome this imagined deficit, which his previous two wins this year over Raonic say he can cover no problem.
Murray v Nishikori first set to contain under 8.5 games
Japanese tennis ace Nishikori inflicted defeat on new men’s tennis number one Murray when they met at the ATP World Tour Finals two years ago, but is an 11/4 outsider to repeat that victory and a long 6/1 shot to do so in straight sets again.
Much has changed since 2014, however; most notably Murray adding second Wimbledon and Olympics titles to his honours. One value bet recent head-to-heads throw up is decisive opening set wins for both players.
Murray flew out of the blocks in the Olympics semi-final to win the first set 6-1. Nishikori then did likewise just a few weeks later in the US Open quarters. That makes a 3/1 price on the opening set being under 8.5 games well worth a wager.
Wawrinka to win Cilic clash 2-1
Both late-blooming Swiss star Wawrinka and Croatia’s Cilic looked out of sorts when comprehensively beaten in their John McEnroe Group openers, but the former looks the more likely to bounce back.
Reigning US Open champion Wawrinka is on a six-match winning streak against the Davis Cup finalist, so starts as an 11/10 favourite for victory.
A better punt is siding with Wawrinka at a tasty 10/3 to win 2-1. That’s a result he’s recorded in three of his last four clashes with Cilic, including at the 2014 ATP World Tour Finals.
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