Baghdatis looking for another final run at Rogers Cup
Published:Marcos Baghdatis will have to record a maiden victory over Jeremy Chardy if he is to build on his recent appearance in the final of the Legg Mason Classic at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.
The world number 20 fell in straight sets to David Nalbandian in the Washington final and is preparing to participate in the Rogers Cup for the first time since 2007.
Baghdatis is considered the 8/15 favourite to progress to a second round clash with either Fernando Verdasco or Eduardo Schwank, despite losing to French 23-year-old Chardy in their only previous meeting.
This was during the quarter finals of the ATP World Tour 250 series event at Delray Beach last year when Chardy prevailed in successive tie-breaks and he is 11/4 to triumph in straight sets again.
Verdasco could be given the chance to quickly avenge his last-eight defeat to Baghdatis in Washington if he can find a way past Argentinean star Schwank.
The left-hander, who is 1/8 to reach round two and 40/1 to win the tournament, has already tasted hard court success in 2010 at the SAP Open in San Jose in February when getting the better of Andy Roddick over three sets.
Meanwhile, Schwank is preparing for his first ATP hard court tournament since March and has been slightly out of form of late, failing to win back-to-back matches in the past three months.
One of the most difficult games to call could be the clash between hard court fans Philipp Kohlschreiber and Janko Tipsarevic.
Tipsarevic won the duo’s only previous meeting last season and has reached the last four in Los Angeles and the quarter finals of the Legg Mason Classic recently.
He is 4/7 to reach the second round, with Kohlschreiber considered the 5/4 underdog.
Rafael Nadal is one of eight players to receive a bye in the first round in Toronto and is the 9/4 favourite to win the tournament.
