The ATP and WTA Tour make a joint stop in Cincinnati this week in the final big tournament before the final Grand Slam of the season begins at Flushing Meadows on August 29th.
With the big guns not playing in the week before a Grand Slam event, this represents the final chance to get some decent hard court match sharpness under their belts and there will be some players hoping to do so following early exits in Montreal and Toronto, most notably Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova.
ATP Masters Cincinnati
Last week I picked Andy Murray and Roger Federer as my outright picks from the Men's event in Montreal and I have reason to think it may be a good idea going back to the well and hoping for better fortunes for both players this week.
I mentioned Federer did not have the best record in the Canadian Masters event, but that is vastly different in Cincinnati at an event he has won 4 times, including in 2009 and 2010.
The draw has not been that kind to the former World Number 1 with an opening match against Juan Martin Del Potro, but I feel Federer will get the best of a player that is still trying to return to the form that made him so dangerous in 2009. Since then, Del Potro lost much of 2010 with a wrist injury, and he is yet to really get back to the form that can trouble the very best.
IF Federer can get through this initial test, he does look like having a straight forward path to the Semi Finals where he could meet the man of the season, Novak Djokovic. The Serb won yet another Masters tournament in Montreal on Sunday and he has been given a kind draw through to the Semi Finals in Cincinnati this week.
However, Djokovic had looked a little tired towards the end of his match with Mardy Fish and I think Federer has the aggressive attitude and belief to beat Djokovic for the 2nd time this season.
On the other side of the draw, Andy Murray has a potentially tough match with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 3rd Round, but the Frenchman is no gimme to make that match following his retirement with a bicep injury against Djokovic in the Semi Final last week where he could be heard explaining he 'can't serve' and that he wanted to try and play here in Cincinnati. With the US Open fast approaching, it would not be that surprising if Tsonga exits this tournament fairly early.
Another awkward looking test could await in the Quarter Finals where the British Number 1 is seeded to meet David Ferrer, a player that can cause anyone problems when he is on his game. Ferrer has not played a hard court match during this hard court swing, so I would expect Murray to have too much for him just now and move through to a Semi Final.
At that stage it is likely that Rafael Nadal will be waiting for Murray, but the British Number 1 has a decent record against Nadal on the hard courts and I think he could have enough to move through to the Final here.
It didn't work for me last week, but I am going to back Roger Federer and Andy Murray this week to make up for it.
WTA Cincinnati
Much like last week, there are plenty of question marks over the top players in the draw so I am again going to take a watching brief with the US Open in mind.
Serena Williams looked untouchable again last when winning in Toronto and she is rightly the favourite to win this tournament as well as at Flushing Meadows.
However, Williams has played a lot of tennis recently while winning tournaments in Stanford and last week and I am not sure if she will be fully focused now she re-enters the top 35.
MY PICKS: Roger Federer @ 7.00 Stan James (1 Unit E/W)
Andy Murray @ 9.00 Stan James (1 Unit E/W)
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