A trip to Canada always kicks off the hard court season in full swing! The tournaments alternate destinations each year. This year the ladies will be back in Toronto and the men will be in Montreal. The draw is packed with many exciting round one match ups! So let’s take a look…

Milos Raonic v Taylor Fritz

Taylor is the form player, he has had some great results of late with wins in Nottingham and finalist in Atlanta. Everything has come together for the American whose game does look much more combined now. Raonic is looking for some momentum, he needs it ahead of New York. He has missed most of his season injured missing a big chunk and this is a difficult time of year to build momentum as the tournaments come thick and fast. I’m swaying however towards a Raonic win here…

Anett Kontaveit v Maria Sharapova

The big question will be, where is Sharapova at right now? Anett is a tough test and is the final seeded player in the competition. The Estonian has had some good results this year and I really like her powerful baseline game. Sharapova has it on her racket but how will her body go? She has been training at the Piatti academy but I do think Anett will win this one.

Felix Auger-Aliassime v Vasek Pospisil

Vasek is another player coming back from injury. It has been a tough ride for him but it is good to see him back! Felix has some good performances in Washington and is having a very good first year. I can only see one winner here but it is good to see Vasek back although I thought a wildcard at a smaller tournament would have been more beneficial to getting matches under the belt.

Eugenie Bouchard v Bianca Andreescu

Talking about Canadians and returning we have Bianca Andreescu back. She just hasn’t got going since she won Indian Wells. Shoulder injury has been a nightmare for her and here is hoping it’s behind her now in time for her debut at home. Bouchard… is on a eight match losing streak and hasn’t won since the 17th of February and were now in August. Deserving of a wildcard? Absolutely not.

Stan Wawrinka v Grigor Dimitrov

Grigor Dimitrov isn’t having a good time. One of his worst career losses in Atlanta, second round exit in Washington and now Stan in round one.

Grigor needs the win, it’s simple! I’m struggling to see what is improving though in his game. He has Andre Agassi in his corner but nothing seems to be coming together. He got into the main draw because of withdrawals from others and less than two years ago was number three in the world.

Dayana Yastremska v Johanna Konta

Good match up! It will be a test for two form players. Jo’s form has been great and will be interesting to see how she’s moved on from her Wimbledon defeat. Yastremska is a solid baseline player. She does wear her heart on her sleeve which I like and it will be interesting to see how she gets on. I’m going for Jo in three…

Kyle Edmund v Nick Kyrgios

The pressure is on Kyle. He hasn’t found much momentum this year. I have found it a bit flat of late, there have been some injury issues but that Wimbledon defeat to Verdasco was bizarre! Kyrgios played a great week in Washington, he looks in good form and I hope he keeps it going!

Who else?

There are plenty of other incredible round one matches to;

Guido Pella v David Goffin

Peter Gojowczyk v Borna Coric

Benoit Paire v Richard Gasquet

Kevin Anderson v Lucas Pouille

Pierre-Hugues Herbert v Denis Shapovalov

Sofia Kenin v Hsieh Su-Wei

Angie Kerber v Daria Kasatkina

Carla Suarez Navarro v Venus Williams

Madison Keys v Donna Vekic

Image credit – Indian Wells