Big guns make their first appearance since Wimbledon at Rogers Cup

The first major tune-up event for the US Open, the Rogers Cup, is under way this week in Canada. With the US Open just three weeks away, several of the big boys and girls have come out to play for the first time since Wimbledon. And although, both the men’s and women’s events have been hit by several withdrawals, there’s still plenty to keep an eye out for.

The Women –

Serena Williams

Serena Williams is the top seed in this draw and will start as the favourite. Though she may be susceptible to losses like she had in Melbourne and Wimbledon, two of the Americans biggest threats have pulled out due to injury. World no. 2 Victoria Azarenka pulled out hours after losing in the Carlsbad finals to Samantha Stosur on Sunday while world no. 3 Maria Sharapova is sitting out due to a hip injury.

That leaves Agnieszka Radwanska, who has been complaining that she is not feeling comfortable on the hardcourts yet, and Li Na, who is working on being more aggressive in her on-court game, as Serena’s top rivals for the crown.

Serena could meet sister Venus Williams (playing her first event since the French open) in the third round and Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli in the quarters. It will be interesting to see how Bartoli handles her first event as a Grand Slam champion.

Stosur’s win in Carlsbad on Sunday should make her a dangerous foe this week and there is also the usual cast of suspects such as Angelique Kerber, Petra Kvitova,, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Sara Errani and Jelena Jankovic.

20-year-old American Sloane Stephens will be hoping to avoid another early exit after last week. The American has not done a good job of being in the spotlight since her breakout Australian Open run and needs some good wins over the next few weeks before she heads into New York, where she will be one of the star attractions on the women’s side after Serena.

Also keep an eye out for rising American Jamie Hampton, 19-year-old local favourite Eugenie Bouchard and former world no. 20 Alisa Kleybanova, who is playing her first WTA level event since last March after recovering from Hodgkins Lymphoma.

The Men –

Novak Djokovic

The men’s event, being held in Montreal this year, has been hit by several withdrawals. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Tommy Robredo, Sam Querrey, Juan Monaco, Mardy Fish and most notably Roger Federer. The Swiss has not recovered from a back injury, and his withdrawal here means he has even lesser time to get adjusted to his new larger frame before the US Open.

The other members of the Big Four – world no. 1 Novak Djokovic, no. 2 Andy Murray and no. 4 Rafael Nadal are all in the field, playing for the first time since Wimbledon. Djokovic and Murray will start as favourites and Nadal’s fitness will be closely watched.

Djokovic and Nadal are drawn in the same half which means they could meet in the semi-finals while Murray has the other Spaniard, David Ferrer, as his projected semi-final opponent. But Murray’s big worry could come in the quarter-finals where he is drawn to meet Washington champion Juan Martin del Potro.

Others to keep an eye on, include Japan’s Kei Nishikori, seeded 9th and looking set to make a historic bid for the top 10; unseeded American Joh Isner, winner in Atlanta and runner-up in Washington; and 13th seeded Italian Fabio Fognini, whose 13 clay court winning streak ended last weekend.

Youngsters Milos Roanic (5 wins in his last 7 events) and Grigor Dimitrov will be looking for some morale-boosting wins ahead of Flushing Meadows.