The US Open Series reaches the homeland this week as following another scintillating week in Canada (Toronto and Montreal) for the Rogers Cup, the world's top tennis players head to the hard courts of Cincinnati for the Winston & Salem Open.
An event with a rich history, the fields for both the ATP and WTA events look solid. Danny Archer rifled in a juicy 12/1 winner in last week's ATP Rogers Cup as Alexander Zverev beat his other selection Roger Federer and he is back with his best bets for this week's tournaments...
ATP - Nadal To Come Good Ahead Of Flushing Meadows
The usual suspects all take part in the men's event with the exception of last year's winner Marin Cilic, finalist Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka who all have injury problems.
The favourite for Cincinnati is Roger Federer (13/8) who arrives on the back of a decent return to the hard courts following a 6-3 6-4 defeat to Next Gen star Sacha Zverev in the Rogers Cup final at Montreal. Arriving back from America, I wasn't able to watch the game live but apparently Federer was struggling physically in the second set with an injury and doubts have been raised about his participation here this week.
That injury worry just two weeks before the US Open is enough of a turn off for me and I think value lies elsewhere.
My main bet will be on Spain's Rafa Nadal (4/1). The 15-time Grand Slam winner missed out on the chance to return to the No.1 ranking when losing to Canadian teenage star Denis Shapovalov in Montreal last week in 3 sets at the round of 16 stage.
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Nadal was very disappointing in that game particularly in the final set but Shapovalov thrived off the home crowd support and with Nadal obviously and evidently better suited by clay not just throughout his career but particularly as he has got older, he would have needed that hard court return to readjust.
Nadal didn't hang around to see the sights in Montreal and I've heard his practice in Cincinnati has been excellent and he will be keen to go into the US Open in New York as the No.1 in the world. He receives a bye in the first round and I'm very keen on his chances following a satisfactory return to this surface last week.
Alexander Zverev (12/1) is proving the sensation of the season. The 20-year-old Next Gen star has reached six finals his year, winning five of them. He was oh so impressive in Montreal last week partaking in a host of absolute humdinger matches. Anyone who watched his round of 16 epic with Richard Gasquet, in which he saved a match point in a 49 shot rally will remember that game for a long time.
He then dispatched Big serving South African Kevin Anderson in the quarters before ending the run of Canadian hope Denis Shapovalov in the semis. In the aforementioned final against Federer, he again impressed with his big serving and groundstroke game beating the 36-year-old 19-time Grand Slam winner in straight sets.
He was successful the week before in the ATP 500 Citi Open in Washington D.C. and as he receives a bye in the jest round, he has time to acclimatise in Cincinnati. I see no reason why he can't reach another final.
Others towards the head of the market include Japan's Kei Nishikori (16/1), Milos Raonic (20/1) and Tennis' bad boy Nick Kyrgios (25/1). The latter played some special special tennis last week particularly against Viktor Troicki in the first round before his run was ended by Zverev.
The problem with Kyrgios is his distinct inability to put a sustained run of form together and whilst he continues to have time on his side, he has to start putting his exciting game together.
Dominic Thiem (33/1) who lost to an inspired Diego Schwartzmann in another cracking match in Montreal, John Isner (33/1) who was outsmarted by Juan Martin Del Potro (40/1) and Grigor Dimitrov (33/1) who suffered a shock 3 set loss to Robin Haase are too unreliable and inconsistent with their form to strike a wager.
Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (40/1), Wimbledon semi-finalist Tomas Berdych (50/1) and Gilles Muller (50/1), playing some decent tennis this summer could all go deep but perhaps lack the game to really threaten.
One player I've been keen on for a long time is American Jack Sock (55/1) but he is another whose form is unpredictable. He played some lovely stuff against Pierre Hugues Herbert last week before losing to veteran David Ferrer.
Him and Sam Querrey (66/1) also carry American hopes whilst Kevin Anderson (66/1) and Gael Monfils (66/1) are showing an upturn in form.
Archer's Ace - Nadal To Be Punter's Pal
I think Rafa Nadal, who has had plenty of time to adjust to the courts in Cincinnati and who would've improved for his return to hard courts last week offers a bit of value at 4/1. He still remains a player of immense class and is desperate to get back his No.1 ranking.
Teenage sensation Alexander Zverev is also worth a little dabble as he continues to ignite the men's game.
WTA - Pliskova No Pushover
Without Serena Williams, the women's game has suffered a lull in recent times as a succession of different players plunder the no.1 ranking.
Elina Svitolina was sensational in Toronto last week as she landed the Rogers Cup and she forms part of a stellar field for the women's event.
Current favouritism is held by my selection for Toronto last week Karolina Pliskova (8/1). She was beaten in a 3 set cracker by perennial bridesmaid Caroline Wozniacki (18/1) last week but didn't seem too fazed by her new No.1 ranking.
With that experience back on the hard courts under her belt, I fancy her to go very close in Cincinnati. Simona Halep (9/1) was dispatched 6-1 6-1 by the aforementioned Wozniacki, who I struggle to fancy given her poor record in finals, in the semis-finals in Toronto last week.
That was a good run having retired due to heat exhaustion from her quarter final in Washington D.C. in the Citi Open the week before. She looks to playing somewhere near her best but I would say the added heat in Cincinnati could pose a problem.
Britain's Jo Konta (14/1) had match points over Ekaterina Makarova in Toronto but failed to convert on her return to the tour following her Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Venus Williams (16/1) who was outplayed by Svitolina last week. Both women need to improve on those matches but have the games to do so.
Youngster Jelena Ostapenko (20/1) who displayed a poor attitude when beaten last week, coupled with Petra Kvitova (22/1) who is taking a while to adapt back to the hard courts also deserve a mention.
Bank of the West Classic winner Madison Keys (25/1) missed Toronto through injury but was impressive at Stanford when defeating fellow American Coco Vandeweghe in the final, who lost to Aga Radwanska (33/1) in Toronto and if playing their best tennis, both women could ask have a shout.
Archer's Ace - Pliskova To Prove Profitable
Karolina Pliskova played well for large portions in Toronto last week and with conditions hopefully suiting her in Cincinnati, she can stall her mark as world no.1.
I'm also interested in Madison Keys at a big each way price. She has had her injury troubles, but if fit for this event, she looks interesting based on that Stanford win. The move to appoint Lindsay Davenport as her coach has also paid dividends and her big power game of huge serves and groundstrokes makes her a value alternative.
Danny Archer's selections (Scale of 1-5 points)
Rafael Nadal to win ATP Winston & Salem Open - 3pts Win 4/1 Coral
Alexander Zverev to win ATP Winston & Salem Open - 1pt Win 12/1 Betfred
Karolina Pliskova to win WTA Winston & Salem Open - 2pts Win 8/1 Coral
Madison Keys to win WTA Winston & Salem Open - 1pt Win 25/1 Betfair
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