Bookmakers may be right to put Kvitova top of their lists

ATP Winston-Salem Open
The final US Open prep event in North Carolina looks a hugely competitive heat and punters are advised to check the latest news regarding player participation before betting.

John Isner is third seed for the final US Open prep event, but if the American beanpole won his Cincinnati Masters semi-final on Saturday night it would be no surprise to see him withdraw from this week's proceedings.

Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta, who contested the final in Winston-Salem last year, are the top two seeds at this year's event and both Spaniards could again figure.

Also worthy of respect are seeds Kevin Anderson, the champion two years ago who is back playing at his peak again, and Californian battler Steve Johnson.

Taylor Fritz, while respected, may not be performing well enough to take the event by storm, while Borna Coric, another wild-card entry like Fritz, has been strugging with consistency.

With victories for players priced at 55-1, 50-1 and 100-1 in three of the last four years, many punters will be keeping their powder dry for the US Open, which starts a week on Monday.

For anyone looking for an outright bet, teen talent Andrey Rublev could go well at big odds. The penny seems to be dropping for the Russian.

Recommendation
A Rublev
1pt each-way 66-1 bet365

WTA Connecticut Open
Petra Kvitova won a Wimble­don prep event in June soon after she returned from a stabbing incident in December and the Czech could be worth an interest to take the final warm-up tournament for the US Open.

Prior to Agnieszka Radwanska's Connecticut Open cakewalk last year – the Pole returns to defend her title and could obviously be a huge danger – Kvitova and Caroline Wozniacki used to produce some of their best tennis on the Yale University campus in New Haven.

Kvitova may need more time until she is ready to add to her Grand Slam roster, but taking into account her love for this event – and the fact that Wozniacki is not competing this week – the third seed may be capable of landing her second singles crown of the season to go with her Edgbaston one on the grass in June.

Dominika Cibulkova enjoyed a superb 2016 but this season is proving more mundane for the Slovak, while Kristina Mladenovic surprisingly lost first-round outings in Toronto and Cincinnati.

Elena Vesnina could be vulnerable against Sloane Stephens, who was due to contest her Cincinnati semi-final on Saturday night, while Anastasia Pavlyu­chenkova and Shuai Peng may be seen to better effect in New York next week.

Recommendation
P Kvitova
1pt 5-1 Betfred

The lowdown

ATP Winston-Salem Open
Venue Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Prize money $748,960 ($89,280 to winner)
Ranking points to winner 250
Surface Outdoor DecoTurf hard courts
When to bet Starts 4pm today
Weather forecast Mostly dry but Wednesday could see thundery showers. High 33C
Time difference Five hours behind the UK and Ireland

WTA Connecticut Open
Venue Connecticut Tennis Centre, Yale University, New Haven
Prize money $776,000 ($132,300 to winner)
Category Premier (470 ranking points to winner)
Surface Outdoor SportMaster hard courts
When to bet Starts 3pm today
Where to watch Live on BT Sport from tomorrow
Weather forecast Mostly dry but Tuesday and Wednesday could see thundery showers. High 30C
Time difference Five hours behind the UK and Ireland