Agnieszka Radwanska (1.5) v Alisa Kleybanova (2.9)

Radwanska won their only previous meeting last year, although it did go to a third set. She also comes into this week in excellent form having reached the final in San Diego last week. However, she has very blistered feet and the last two weeks will definitely have taken a lot out of her having also reached the semis in Stanford the week before. Moreover, she’s lost 11 of 21 matches this year against players currently ranked 11-50

Kleybanova reached the quarters in San Diego, losing to Hantuchova after beating Jankovic and Rezai. This was just another example of her improvement in the past year, particularly on hard courts where she has reached the quarters at Indian Wells (beating Clijsters) and claimed the title in Kuala Lumpur (beating Dementieva). Furthermore, she reached the semis of the Rogers Cup last year and has won six of her last eight matches on hard courts against current top 10 players.

5-8 seeds have lost their second round (opening) match against non-seeds non-qualifiers (or WC/LLs) in 8/14 matches at the Rogers Cup since 2006 (this was the first Premier level event after Wimbledon in three of those years).

Recommendation: Kleybanova to win at 2.9, BWin

Elena Vesnina (1.83) v Francesca Schiavone (2.1)

Vesnina won their only previous meeting, four years ago on hard courts in straight sets. More significantly she comes into this week in far better form than the French Open champion, who has won just one of four matches since her Roland Garros triumph.

Vesnina was a beaten finalist in the heat of Istanbul coming into this event and the searing temperatures proved no hindrance as she thrashed Oudin in round one. Moreover, she’s won eight of 11 matches since 2009 when 1.7-2.0 to win, including six of eight on hard courts, with all her wins coming in straight sets.

Schiavone has lost six of 11 matches on hard courts since 2009 against players currently ranked 26-50, including four of five on outdoor courts. Furthermore, she’s lost six of seven matches in North America between Wimbledon and the US Open in 2008 and 2009.

Recommendation: Vesnina to win at 1.9, Betfair

Yanina Wickmayer (1.36) v Gisela Dulko (3.61)

Wickmayer has had some tough draws recently as she lost in the first round to Kuznetsova last week and the quarters to Stosur the week before – both in three sets – and before that to Zvonareva and Clijsters at Wimbledon and Eastbourne. However, her play in this time has been of a good standard and she’s stated she enjoys the heat in Cincinnati. Moreover, back to last year’s US Open she’s won 13 of 15 matches against players currently ranked 26-50 including eight wins in straight sets. Furthermore, she clearly enjoys North America having made her breakthrough at last year’s US Open reaching the semis and then performing well at Indian Wells and Miami in the spring.

Dulko retired in the first round of San Diego with an ankle injury having lost the first nine games of the match to a qualifier ranked outside the top 200. Moreover, she’s lost 10 of 13 completed tour matches against current top 25 ranked players since 2008 with nine defeats in straight sets.

Recommendation: Wickmayer to win 2-0 at 2.0, William Hill

Nikolay Davydenko (1.25) v Fabio Fognini (4.4)

Fognini won the last time these two met, a year ago on clay, while overall their head-to-head stands at one win apiece.

Davydenko is clearly still struggling to find his game after returning from a fractured wrist before Wimbledon as he was beaten comfortably by Chela, Golubev and Gimeno-Traver early in his last three events – all on clay – to make four defeats in his last six matches when shorter than 1.50 to win. Furthermore, the Russian has won only seven of 12 matches in the Rogers Cup since 2005 in what has always been his first hard court tournament since Wimbledon in this time. Even worse, he’s won just one of three matches in Toronto in this time.

Fognini comfortably beat Stepanek yesterday to improve to eight wins in his last 12 matches and make it three consecutive straight set wins here having come through qualifying. Furthermore, with recent wins over Monfils and Verdasco he’s won six of 17 matches against current top 25 ranked players since 2009.

Recommendation: Fognini to win at 4.8, Betfair

Yen-Hsun Lu (1.83) v Paul-Henri Mathieu (2.1)

Lu has been making some big breakthroughs this year as he reached a career high ranking of 41 last month. He’s also won two Challenger titles in the past 12 months and reached another final – all on hard courts – before making that run to the quarters at Wimbledon where he beat Andy Roddick. He also came through qualifying at Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year to reach the second rounds in both and since February his ranking has climbed over 80 placed from 125 as he’s won five of seven matches in this time against players now ranked 51-100

Mathieu is heading the other way in the rankings despite an impressive run of his own at Wimbledon. The Frenchman has benefitted from a Lucky Loser spot after Roddick’s withdrawal but has lost four of his five matches since Wimbledon and has dropped from 27 in the world here a year ago to just 95. In fact, he’s lost eight of 10 matches this year against players currently ranked 26-100.

Recommendation: Lu to win at 1.83, Boyles