2017 Paris Masters Betting Preview & Expert Prediction

Written by on October 27, 2017

In what has turned out to be an incredible – and almost incomprehensible year, World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and World No. 2 Roger Federer, have both risen back to the top of the sport they’ve dominated for the better part of the last decade – after just a year ago – it looked like both were closer to retirement than ever winning another grand slam, but now Federer is the 2017 Paris Masters betting favorite. With the tournament set to get underway on Monday, the big question heading into the ninth and final Masters 1000 of the year is whether or not anyone can beat Roger, who will be seeking either his seventh or eighth title of the year, depending on what happens in Basel this weekend as he gets set for his quarterfinal match on Friday. While the ATP odds for this tournament has not yet been listed, let’s take a look at Fed’s chances and those of a handful of other possible winners.

2017 Paris Masters Betting Preview & Expert Prediction

  • Where: Paris, France
  • When: Oct. 30 – Nov. 5, 2017
  • Category: Masters 1000

Tournament Information

  • Founded: 1968
  • Editions: 45
  • Venue: AccorHotels Arena
  • Surface: Hard/Indoors
  • Prize Money: €4,273,775 (2017)

Recent History

Defending champion Andy Murray, who won last year’s Paris Masters by defeating John Isner, will not be there to defend his title. The most successful player here in recent times is Novak Djokovic who has four wins in 2009, 2013-2015 against Monfils, Ferrer, Raonic, and Murray respectively. Djokovic has a 4-0 record in Paris Masters finals, but like Murray, he’s done for the season because of injuries. Incredibly in the almost 50-year history of the tournament, Djokovic is the only player who has ever defended his title.

Last Winners

  • 2011: Roger Federer-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (6-1, 7-6)
  • 2012: David Ferrer-Jerzy Janowicz (6-4, 6-3)
  • 2013: Novak Djokovic-David Ferrer (7-5, 7-5)
  • 2014: Novak Djokovic-Milos Raonic (6-2, 6-3)
  • 2015: Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray (6-2, 6-4)
  • 2016: Andy Murray- John Isner (6-3, 6-7, 6-4)

Top Contenders for 2017

Roger Federer

With no doubt Federer will be the favorite after beating Nadal in the final at Shanghai 6-4, 6-3, to record his fifth straight win over his arch-rival and fourth this year alone. Federer has gone 44-4 this year while playing in fewer tournaments while both, managing his aging body and apparently maximizing his chances for success. In what has been one of his best seasons ever, the greatest male tennis player of all-time won two grand slams by claiming his fifth career Australian Open title and record, eighth career Wimbledon championship. In addition to that, Federer has also won Masters 100 tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, and Shanghai, while, ironically, beating Nadal in the finals at all three Masters events and the Aussie Open. With Rafa sitting out in Paris to rest his balk knees, Federer is the clear-cut favorite. The Paris Masters is the only ATP 1000 Masters tournament to be played indoors and everyone knows that Federer is extremely difficult to beat on indoor hardcourts, which is why he’s the Paris Masters Betting favorite. The 2017 edition is scheduled for October 30 to November 5 and is the 46th edition of the prestigious competition. Not only is the event a big favorite for the players, it is also the final event before the year-ending Nitto ATP Finals featuring the top eight players in the world in a round-robin format event.

Alex Zverev

The 6-foot-6 World No. 5 is now a force on the ATP World Tour that is only going to get better moving forward and that’s just a scary proposition as I see it. Zverev has gone 52-18 this year with five titles, including a pair of Masters 1000s at Rome and Canada. The 20-year-old star has it all too, from some sweet groundstrokes to a solid serve that is only going to get faster as he continues to mature. Oh, by the way, he’s also 2-2 in four career matches against Federer, including two this year and two in 2016.

Dominic Thiem

The 24-year-old World No. 6 has gone 46-23 this year with one title, but really, he looks burnt out right now after failing to get past the Round of 16 in each of his last four tourneys.

Grigor Dimitrov

The 26-year-old World No. 8 had had something of a resurgent season in going 43-18 with three titles this year while winning his first Masters 100 in Cincinnati. The near Federer clone is looking good right now, having reached the final opposite Juan Martin Del Potro in Stockholm and reaching the quarters in Shanghai before losing to Nadal in three sets.

Marin Cilic

The 29-year-old World No. 4 has had a solid season in posting a 39-17 record with one title while reaching the finals at Wimbledon before succumbing to Federer. Cilic also reached the semis at Shanghai before losing to Nadal in straight sets, so he’ll have a chance with his big serve on a fast court. Who is the 2017 Paris Masters betting favorite?

Juan Martin Del Potro

The 29-year-old World No. 19 is so likable that everyone wants him to win a lot, especially after overcoming some serious wrist injuries that really derailed his career for a few years. The 6-6 Argentine is 32-14 on the year with one title at Stockholm last week, but he also reached the semis at Shanghai before losing to Federer, not to mention he knocked Fed out of the U.S. Open in the quarters in September.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

He might go down as one of the best players to never win a major, but I still love the 32-year-old World No. 15. Tsonga is 33-12 on the year and he’s been playing excellent tennis lately, having reached the final in Belgium and the quarters at St. Petersburg. Tsonga’s got a big game and plays well on fast courts, so who knows what could happen.

Sam Querrey

Sure, the state of men’s American tennis is mostly a mess right now, but 30-year-old Sam Querrey is playing the best tennis of his career and has gone 36-19 with two titles on the year at Acapulco and Los Cabos. It’s probably more wishful thinking than anything else, but miracles do happen tennis fans and betting enthusiasts!

2017 Paris Masters Betting Pick Analysis

I’m going with the incomparable Federer as the top Paris Masters Betting Pick, followed by picks for Zverev and Del Potro in that order. Winner: Roger Federer