2017 ATP tennis tips: How will the men’s top stars fare next year?

Novak Djokovic

With Murray on the up, it is fair to say that Djokovic is on the slight decline, as his seemingly impossible-to-reach points gap at the top of the rankings was somehow overhauled by Murray.

The Serb world number two could be forgiven for his dip in form, though, after a brilliant start to the season that saw him claim both the Australian Open and first-ever French Open to complete the Career Slam. On top of that, he also suffered from injury and personal life issues.

So, only time will tell if he is to embark on recapturing top spot as well as adding more Grand Slam titles to his tally of 12. He is just two and five respectively behind old rivals Rafael Nadal and all-time great Roger Federer.

Finishing runner-up in the Tour Finals, beating the likes of rising stars Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori and Dominic Thiem along the way, suggests that he is certainly far from done, and being the same age as Murray has plenty more to offer.

Coral have priced Djokovic (6/5 to end 2017 as world number one) as favourite to retain both the Australian Open (11/8) and French Open (5/4) titles, as well as regain Wimbledon and the US Open (both 6/4).

Milos Raonic

The man with arguably the best chance of outlasting Murray and Djokovic in a Grand Slam or two in 2017 is rapidly rising star Raonic, who threatened to halt both aforementioned stars’ runs to the Tour Finals final.

Raonic also reached the 2016 Wimbledon final, only narrowly losing to Murray 6-4 7-6 7-6 and the 25-year-old has been touted as a future multiple major winner.

He may have to wait a year or two for Murray and Djokovic to decline, but is 9/1 to go one step further at the next SW19 event.

You can also back the Montenegrin-born big server at 22/1 to claim the Australian Open and 20/1 the US Open.

After finishing the year as world number three, he is the most likely star to some how overtake Djokovic and Murray at the top of the rankings. But, having over half the amount of points, it’s understandable that his price is so long at 28/1 to be 2017 season-ending world number one.

Stan Wawrinka

Swiss number one Wawrinka is the only other player on this list, besides Djokovic and Murray who is a multiple Grand Slam champion, and he in fact has the same amount of titles as the latter.

Now aged 31, it might be too late in his career to top the rankings for the first time and beat his best of third place after his 2014 Australian Open triumph, but he’s most likely to defend his French Open title at 8/1.

Wawrinka needs just a Wimbledon title to complete the Career Slam and, although he’s only reached as far as the quarters there, he is 22/1 to win it in 2017.

Meanwhile, he is 12/1 to regain the Australian Open crown and 16/1 to finish 2017 as ATP world number one.

Juan Martin Del Potro

Finally, on to Del Potro, who has done extremely well over the last year to come back from a wrist injury that threatened his career at one stage.

He is now up to 38 in the world rankings after being outside the top 1000 as recently as February, and showed glimpses of what he’s still capable of by winning Silver at the 2016 Olympics and Stockholm Open in October, plus helping Argentina to the Davis Cup final.

The 2009 US Open champion has plenty of time to get ready for Flushing Meadows again next year, and is 12/1 third-favourite claim it again in 2017.

It might be too soon for him to be an Australian Open contender (also 12/1 to win) but, being a past Wimbledon (14/1) and French Open (25/1) semi-finalist, can fancy his chances of going far in them.

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