The Rogers Cup is Canada's biggest tennis tournament and the Men's Masters 1000 tournament is held in Montreal this year, with the Women's Premier Five Tournament in Toronto.
Here are Danny Archer's selections for both tournaments...
ATP Rogers Cup - Federer to continue remarkable form
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The men's tournament has attracted a decent field despite the omission of Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka (both out until 2018), Marin Cilic and Britain's finest Andy Murray. The market for this year's event is headed by Wimbledon champion Roger Federer at 7/4 and he looks well placed to land another Masters 1000 event.
Federer has been in irresistible form this season, plundering the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Halle and Wimbledon. His decision to bypass the clay court season has paid dividends and he arrives in Canada Fresh having not played since beating Cilic in straight sets at SW19. Many thought he might miss Canada after he said in his post match press conference at Wimbledon that he would discuss whether to play Montreal.
However, his desire to regain his world no.1 ranking and the dip
in form of his main big four rivals (less so Nadal) has probably swayed him and
his coaching team to come here. Despite his lack of game time on the hard courts
since March, the 35-year-olds sensational form makes him tough to beat.
Other contenders for the title include Rafael Nadal (7/2). Beaten by Gilles
Muller in five sets at Wimbledon, the Spaniard will regain the no.1 ranking if
he reaches the semi-finals here. The rumours are that Nadal has been practising
well and has no great injury concerns for the first time in a long time.
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He was sensational on the clay at Roland Garros but I'm just
starting to get the feeling that grass and hard courts might be getting a bit
too quick for him these days.
Others to mention include Canada's no.1 Milos Raonic (9/1). He was a semi-finalist
in the Citi Open last week as was Kei Nishikori (20/1). However, Nishikori was
dispatched quite impressively in straight sets by Alexander Zverev (12/1), the
eventual winner of the Open.
He beat Kevin Anderson in straight sets in Sunday's final in what was his fifth final of the season and fourth title of the year. He looks to have really found his form on the hard courts and is a worthy each Way player. Dominic Thiem (25/1), Wimbledon semi-finalist Tomas Berdych (25/1), Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, John Isner and Juan Martin Del Potro (all 33/1) also deserve mentions.
Verdict - Fed to continue resurgence
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I'm finding it hard to oppose Roger Federer who has simply been the form player of the year. If translating his recent grass court form back to the hard surface, he should prove hard to beat. At an each Way price, I also think Alexander Zverev is worth chancing. He couldn't have been more impressive in Washington D.C. last week and form early on in the hard court season is important.
WTA Rogers Cup Toronto
The women's event in Toronto looks wide open and a host of women have a real opportunity to land the trophy.
Ante-post favourite Garbine Muguruza (8/1) impressively landed the Venus
Rosewater Dish at Wimbledon and played well in the Bank Of The West Classic at
Stanford last week eventually losing her semi-final to eventual winner Madison
Keys (18/1).
New World No.1 Karolina Pliskova is going favourite and excels on the hard
courts. She made the US Open final last year and she could find further
confidence with her new found status. Simona Halep (14/1) retired from her Citi
Open quarter final last week due to heat exhaustion and for me that I a worry
as she has suffered from that before.
Elina Svitolina, Britain's Jo Konta (both 12/1), Petra Kvitova and Caroline Woznicki (14/1) are all intriguing possibles as are Angelique Kerber (16/1), who has really struggled this year to match her 2016 form and BOTW finalist Coco Vandeweghe (16/1). French Open Champion Jelena Ostapenko (16/1) and Winmbledon finalist Venus Williams (22/1) are also part of a stellar field.
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Verdict - Pliskova and Coco make appeal.
Karolina Pliskova's proven liking for the hard courts makes her of real interest and despite her straight set defeat to Madison Keys in Stanford last week, I'm a huge admirer of Coco Vandeweghe. If she stops having tantrums on the court she could prove quite special on this surface. Pat Cash has been a great addition to her team and at a decent each way price, she is of interest.
Danny Archer's Best Bets (Scale of 1-5
points)
Roger Federer to win ATP Rogers Cup Montreal, 5pts Win 7/4
Alexander Zverev to win ATP Rogers Cup Montreal, 1pt E/W 12/1
Karolina Pliskova to win WTA Rogers Cup Toronto, 2pts E/W 17/2
Coco Vandeweghe to win WTA Rogers Cup Toronto, 1pt E/W
25/1
