ATP tennis tournament previews: Rotterdam, Buenos Aires and New York

Previews and best bets for the ATP tennis tournaments in Rotterdam, Buenos Aires and New York.

ATP ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament

When to watch

Starts midday Monday

Best bet

Daniil Medvedev to win ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
2pts 10-3 Sky Bet

Rotterdam preview

Daniil Medvedev has had a fairly slow start to 2020 but he looks the class act on show at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam and can deliver for favourite-backers.

The powerful Russian excelled in 2019, reaching nine finals and winning titles at Sofia, Cincinnati, St Petersburg and Shanghai.
But the undoubted high point of his year was a run to the final of the US Open where he lost 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-4 4-6 to Rafael Nadal in a titanic tussle.

Nadal's greater experience told on that occasion and there was a further learning process for Medvedev at this year's Australian Open, where he suffered a 2-6 6-2 6-4 6-7 2-6 fourth-round defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka.

Medvedev could face a tricky quarter-final test against compatriot and seventh-seed Andrey Rublev, but his biggest competition in the top half of the draw may come from 33-year-old defending champion Gael Monfils, who continued his strong start to 2020 by winning the Open Sud de France in Montpellier last week.

Monfils reached the fourth round at the Australian Open – losing in straight sets to Dominic Thiem, who went on the reach the final – and his success in Rotterdam last year included a 4-6 6-3 6-4 semi-final success over Medvedev.

However, Medvedev has made a lot of progress over the last 12 months and if he meets Monfils again this week it could be a different outcome.

The bottom half looks a shade weaker because the highest-ranked players, second-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and fourth-seed David Goffin, have had sketchy starts to the season.

Tsitsipas has not competed since he was demolished 7-5 6-4 7-6 by Milos Raonic in the Australian Open third round. Goffin followed up a third-round exit in Melbourne, where he lost to Rublev, with a semi-final loss to unseeded Vasek Pospisil in France last week.

ATP Argentina Open

When to watch

Starts 2pm Monday

Best bet

Guido Pella to win Argentina Open
1pt 6-1 Paddy Power

Buenos Aires preview

Guido Pella suffered a surprise second-round exit at the Cordoba Open last week, losing 7-6 5-7 3-6 to rising French star Corentin Moutet, but he is usually a consistent performer on clay and looks a strong contender at this week's Argentina Open.

The draw looks lopsided with market leader Diego Schwartzman and second favourite Cristian Garin both in the top half.

Schwartzman and Garin were contesting the Cordoba Open final on Sunday night and both could feature prominently this week.

However, they have played a lot of matches and there may be value in targeting fresher players from the weaker bottom half of the draw.

Third seed Dusan Lajovic is an interesting contender having taken time off since his run to the third round at the Australian Open but he could face a semi-final battle with Pella, who has won both of their meetings in straight sets.

Pella has also beaten Schwartzman in two of their three clay-court meetings. If he returns to anything near his best, he could go close.

ATP New York Open

When to watch

Starts 3pm Monday

Best bet

Milos Raonic to win New York Open
3pts 9-5 Paddy Power

New York preview

Milos Raonic has had a tough few years since reaching the Wimbledon final in 2016 but he made the quarter-finals at last month's Australian Open and looks the man to beat in the New York Open this week.

The Canadian recorded impressive victories over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Marin Cilic in Melbourne and should not have to play any better to triumph in the Big Apple, where he is one of just four top-50 ranked players in the field.

Top seed John Isner (ranked 18th) is the only top-20 player in attendance but his potential semi-final against compatriot Reilly Opelka looks a tough match.

Opelka won this tournament last year, beating Isner in the process, but started this season with first-round losses at the Adelaide International and the Australian Open and does not seem to be playing well enough to cope with Raonic, who looks a worthy tournament favourite.

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