The ATP and WTA Tours are fully into the North American hard-court swing, and this week brings our first true benchmark events with the 1000-level stops in Montreal and Toronto. With the US Open now on the horizon, this stretch is where contenders start to separate, dialing in their timing, adjusting to quicker conditions, and building real momentum against elite fields.
These tournaments carry significant weight on both tours, giving us a strong read on form, fitness, and potential title paths heading into New York. There’s no shortage of high-level matches to break down, so we’ll have plenty to work with as the week unfolds. I’ll be posting my tennis best bets Monday through Friday, then rolling out my championship picks on the VSiN Pro Picks page for the weekend finals.
With that in mind, keep reading for my tennis best bets for the National Bank Open on Sunday, August 9.
NOTE: Gill Alexander, host of A Numbers Game, posts a bunch of tennis plays to the VSiN picks page. He does a great job handicapping tennis. That page is also where I post all of my Challenger-level picks + plays for all of the tournaments I’m not writing up daily.
Tallon Griekspoor vs. Daniel Merida Aguilar
Merida Aguilar has had a strong season, as he’s up to 15-8 on the year. The Spaniard has also been scorching hot lately. However, on this surface, Griekspoor should be able to get by him. Merida Aguilar will have an advantage in some of the longer rallies in this match, but Griekspoor has a major edge as a server. He should also do a ton of damage in rallies that last 0-4 shots. The only thing to worry about with Griekspoor is his health, as he has been banged up all year and looked to be in some pain last match. But if he can finish this match, it’s hard to imagine him losing.
Bet: Griekspoor ML (-125 – 1.5 units)
Joao Fonseca vs. Ben Shelton
Shelton can be extremely dangerous on hard courts, but his last couple of months have been packed with bad losses. The American simply isn’t playing his best tennis right now, and it’ll take his very best stuff to get through Fonseca. While Shelton has the better serve between these two, it’s Fonseca that has the better overall game. He can match everything Shelton will be throwing at him from a power standpoint, but the Brazilian has better feel and more variety. That should count for something as Fonseca looks to even this head-to-head series up.
Bet: Fonseca ML (+110 – 1.5 units)
Alexandra Eala vs. Belinda Bencic
Bencic is a tremendous player, capable of doing everything at a high level on a tennis court. However, it’s hard not to like Eala at plus-money odds right now. She’s the hottest player on the WTA Tour at the moment, and the atmosphere in her matches is out of control. I like Eala to keep the momentum going, and I think her combination of aggression and intensity should go a long way here.
Bet: Eala ML (+104 – 1.5 units)
Added Plays
I usually have A LOT MORE on the Pro Picks page. Those plays count towards my record and have been a big part of my success this season. Make sure you check them out. I’ll probably add a few more over there, so refresh that page throughout the day if you’re looking for action.
