WTA Tour: Canadian Open

Our tennis guru previews the WTA Tour: Canadian Open which is set to take place from 7 August – 13 August 2017.

One gets the impression that all of these WTA events are something of a lottery giving the absence of one Serena Williams. Although I did call Julia Goerges for Washington as a possible upset last week, I think that the entire art of prediction is thwart with peril at this juncture of the WTA schedule. I’m not giving myself a disclaimer you understand, just trying to contextualize the giant chasm that is left by Serena when she went on this whole baby break.

The WTA Tour: Canadian Open | 7 August – 13 August | Toronto, Ontario, Canada

As with the ATP Tour in Montreal, the world number one spot is up for grabs again. Karolina Plisikova is aiming to retain the number one spot this week with her first event in the American hardcourt series. Hot on her heels is the slightly infuriating Simona Halep. The Romanian is without a doubt the most consistent player in the absence of Serena, but her inability to always fulfil her potential sums up the dangers awaiting any speculator in the murky world of women’s tennis betting of late.

Halep is aiming to defend the crown she won in Montreal last year, with the likes of Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza in the mix this week. It is an exciting time with Cincinatti fast approaching, and you can already see that jostle for optimum seeding at Flushing Meadows taking place. There are also more experienced dark horses lurking in the likes of Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki.

Past Winners
2016: Simona Halep
2015: Belinda Bencic
2014: Agnieszka Radwanska
2013: Serena Williams
2012: Petra Kvitova

The Favourites: Karolina Pliskova and Simona Halep
There seems to be a train of thought that suggests that it is merely inevitable that Simona Halep will surpass Pliskova in the world rankings sooner rather than later. The Romanian dynamo is a defending champion of the Rogers Cup, and was also the finalist here when the tournament was last played here in 2015. She has won 15 tournaments in her career and has a fairly favourable draw, with Julia Goerges probably unlikely to repeat after last week’s highs. Furthermore, Svetlana Kuznetsova has been somewhat unpredictable. But I think that Pliskova may just be able to hang onto that spot this week.

Since winning here debut WTA Premier 5 event at the Western and Southern Open last year, she has been one of the most consistent hardcourt players in female tennis. She was the runner-up at last year’s US Open before claiming titles in both Brisbane and Qatar. Her quarter of the draw looks slightly complicated by the presence of the wonderfully named Coco Vandewegh, but I think that she will feel well rested and could outlast Halep this week.

Ones to watch: Eugenie Bouchard and Katerina Siniakova
To me, this seems like the right time to back Bouchard. Experiencing something of a downer year, her main victory this season was in the eyes of Maria Sharapova detractors with her continued, merciless public assault on the convicted Russian doper. She has lost in the first round of her last three events, but a return to her home event may bring make the good juju. I am really going on a limb here, I just think she’s worth a look at a good price, especially with the current status of women’s tennis.

Perhaps a more sensible outside bet is Katerina Siniakova. The 21 year-old recently captured her second title of the year at the Ericsson Open in Bastad, beating top seed and perennial finalist this season: Caroline Wozniacki- can you believe that the Danish former world number 1 has reached more finals than anyone else this year? She has had a slightly injury hit season but could be someone to watch this week.

A Surprise contender: Caroline Wozniacki
Wozniacki is hardly what one would call a traditional underdog. As I said earlier, the former world number 1 has been a veritable workhorse this season. With five finals to her name. She could face Pliskova in the final eight and has been extremely consistent in hardcourt events. Runner-up to Konta in Miami, she also finished runner-up to Svitolina in on the hardcourts of Dubai.