The men's draw at the US Open lost another big name when defending Champion Stan Wawrinka called time on 2017 just days after Novak Djokovic did the same. Wawrinka has been suffering with a knee issue that needs rest and recuperation, but that means two of the top five names in the outright market are gone before a ball has been struck in New York City.
We may have to add Andy Murray to that list after the World Number 1 pulled out of the Canadian Masters next week. His recovery looks to be taking a lot of time and I think I am beginning to believe he won't be able to be ready to compete at Flushing Meadows.
All of that means it looks like being a two horse race for the end of season World Number 1 spot between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer who look like being the top two Seeds at the US Open. Perhaps the absence of three of the top five players in the world may open the door for another surprise name to win the final Grand Slam event of the season, or it may have left the chance for one of the 'Next Gen' players to show they are ready.
The most likely could be Alexander Zverev who has reached the Semi Final in Washington this week and who has had a big Masters win in Rome. Zverev is yet to really perform at his best at the Grand Slam events, but has the game to really make an impact on the hard courts and I am looking forward to seeing how he does in Montreal and Cincinnati over the next couple of weeks.
The tournaments this week are into the final few matches before the majority of the Tours head off to Canada for the Masters and Premier Event which is played next week. The draw for the men's and women's tournaments have already been released although the First Round matches are scheduled to begin on Monday. Before that the events this week have to conclude.
Joao Sousa + 3.5 games v Philipp Kohlschreiber: The Final in Kitzbuhel is likely to see Philipp Kohlschreiber receive the majority of the support from the crowd. That may not bother Joao Sousa though who has beaten two home hopes in the last two Rounds and has previously given Kohlschreiber plenty to think about.
That includes on the grass courts in Halle in June on a surface you would think Kohlschreiber would be able to really get the better of Sousa. However the latter was able to force a deciding set before going down and I think the clay courts may close that gap a little more and perhaps even see the Portuguese player earn the upset.
That won't be easy, but Sousa has looked in better form than Kohlschreiber so far this week. The German was fortunate to get through in the Quarter Final and the muscle injury he had last week is going to be tested by someone like Sousa who is able to rally all day from the back of the court.
Sousa has been returning well this week, but the bigger factor may be the freedom he has been able to have in attacking opponents thanks to strong serving displays. He did struggle at times against Gerald Melzer, but generally Sousa has been very strong on the serve and I think that could be a key here.
I do have to say that Sousa had been in poor form before this last month back on the clay courts, but his confidence looks in a much better place now. I will be looking for Sousa to return well enough to take a set and that should give him a chance to cover with this number of games, even if Sousa is not able to win the title in Kitzbuhel.
Got a couple of hours between a wedding party today to add the three picks from Washington and Stanford. Hopefully they can have better luck than being a break up and still not winning a set like Sousa had this afternoon in Kitzbuhel.
MY PICKS: Joao Sousa + 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Coco Vandeweghe - 1.5 Games @ 1.73 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Julia Goerges - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)
Alexander Zverev - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)
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