The prestigious National Bank Open is a highlight on the tennis calendar and as the oldest tournament in the world, outside of Wimbledon and the US Open, it invariably attracts a stellar field - and this year is no different.
This week's event will see the return to action of both Wimbledon champions, Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova, while Caroline Wozniacki - a winner in 2010 and finalist in 2017 - makes her comeback out of retirement.
Former world number three Milos Raonic is another on the comeback trail after numerous injury problems and the Canadian will no doubt have the support of the crowd as he looks to roll back the years and emulate his 2013 run to the final.
Although Wozniacki and Raonic are unlikely to go deep, their returns are just adding to the storylines and subplots that may develop over the course of the week, as the world's best fine-tune their games ahead of the final Grand Slam event of the year, the US Open, later this month.
- Daniil Medvedev to win
- Elena Rybakina to win
Medvedev Back On Favourite Surface
Carlos Alcaraz is the top dog in the men's game and that will not be changing any time soon with Novak Djokovic opting to miss this tournament due to fatigue.
The Spanish star should be fresh as he makes his return to action following his Wimbledon win, a success that demonstrates his all-surface strength and the heir apparent to the big three.
He is an understandable favourite but he has not been dealt a kind draw and looks worth taking on.
Last year's beaten finalist, Hubert Hurkacz, Tommy Paul and Holger Rune are among the dangers in Alcaraz's quarter, while Los Cabos Open winner Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner are among those potentially lying in wait before the final.
Therefore it may be wise to look to the other half of the draw where Daniil Medvedev looks to be the standout and has strong claims.
After a pleasing Wimbledon run, the Russian ace is back on his favourite surface and has a proven record in this tournament, winning it the last time it was held in Toronto in 2021, having also reached the final in 2019.
Taylor Fritz is an obvious danger but his recent good form might just be catching up with him and fatigue could certainly be a factor. Medvedev has won the only meeting between the two, while he also has the better of potential semi-final opponents, Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev, and Medvedev is more than capable of going the distance.
Rybakina Eyeing Up 3rd Title In 2023
Much like in the men's game, the obvious favourite does not have the easiest of passages through to the latter stages and it is worth looking elsewhere.
Iga Swiatek could face a former world number one in Karolina Pliskova early on, while Maria Sakkari or Elina Svitolina potentially lie in wait in the quarter-finals. Wimbledon champion Vondrousova, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are potential last-four opponents, and, at the prices it is best looking to the other half.
In that regard, Swiatek has avoided both Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka, but that is a semi-final clash that could see the winner lifting the trophy.
Sabalenka does have the opportunity to claim the world number one ranking but Rybakina offers a little more value and can enhance her reputation with another WTA 1000 title success.
Rybakina beat Swiatek in the quarter-finals en route to winning the Italian Open, while she overcame the world number one followed by Sabalenka to claim the Indian Wells title.
That Indian Wells victory over Sabalenka in the final was the first time that she had beaten the Belarusian in five attempts, having lost the first four encounters between the pair, and will give her confidence she can perform against the best on hard courts.
