Take Roger Federer to bounce back from recent disappointment in Canada by winning this week’s Masters Series event in Cincinnati.

The Swiss suffered a shock second round defeat to Gilles Simon in Toronto but we’re willing to overlook that loss as a complete one-off.

It was Federer’s first outing since his momentous Wimbledon final defeat to Rafael Nadal so we can excuse him lacking match sharpness.

A week on in Cincinnati it should be a different story for the defending champion (he beat James Blake in a straight sets final in 2007 and also won this event in 2005). Federer has been drawn in a very weak looking first quarter that features a much faded Andy Roddick.

Rafael Nadal is again Federer’s main challenger but with an energy sapping run all the way to the Toronto final against Nicolas Kiefer it is asking a lot of the Spaniard.

Novak Djokovic would appear another credible candidate but he looked lacklustre in losing to Andy Murray in Toronto quarters and is probably best overlooked this time.

In terms of outsiders Scotland’s Andy Murray makes appeal. Murray famously beat Federer here in 2006 and he has been drawn in a very winnable second quarter of the draw.

His form in Canada last week was excellent – reaching the semis before falling to Nadal.

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With Rafael Nadal now crowned Wimbledon Champion the Spaniard’s sights now turn to Flushing Meadows, New York, the famous home of the US Open.

Yet again the man he will be looking to dislodge is Roger Federer who is gunning for his fifth straight US Open title.

Totesport go 9/4 that Rafa will do it - a tasty bet indeed when you consider the massive psychological boost that thrilling five-set win over the Swiss has given him. Federer is 11/10.

Nadal’s best effort here was a QF in 2006 and he no doubt disappointed many backers in losing to David Ferrer in the 4th round of 2007, but a year on and a year considerably wiser and richer we expect a far bolder show.

Already the master of clay and now the green stuff, Nadal has the game to prosper on hard-courts make no mistake about that. He’s won Masters Series events in Indian Wells and Canada and is learning all the time.

It wasn’t so long ago that many said he didn’t have the game for grass…

Third favourite is Novak Djokovic, the man who lost in straight sets to Federer in last year’s final. But that was then. The Serb has since vanquished that painful memory by beating Federer in the Australian Open final in January.

At 11/4 he could be the value bet of the main runners.

Of the rags, only Marat Safin makes some appeal. 66/1 for a former winner and this year’s Wimbledon semi-finalist is worth a small interest.

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