A marker in Montreal

Cowan: Nadal is 'determined'

If Murray can be a little more aggressive in the upcoming hard court events there's no reason why we can't see Murray have another great run.

Barry Cowan
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The world's best players will look to lay down a major marker in this week's Montreal Masters, according to Sky Sports' Barry Cowan.

Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all make their first appearances of the hardcourt season in the Rogers Cup after contrasting spells away from the game.

Spaniard Nadal has spent the last two months battling knee tendinitis, Wimbledon champion Federer has become father to twin girls and Murray has spent time training in Miami, passed his driving test and turned out for the North of Scotland.

Throw World No 4 Novak Djokovic, who beat Federer to win the Rogers Cup two years ago, into the mix and Cowan admitted it will be a tough tournament to call.

"Montreal is the first big event since Wimbledon and we don't really know what to expect because the big four have not played for various reasons since Wimbledon," he told Sky Sports News.

"So I think there is real excitement ahead of Montreal and also Cincinnati as we gauge their form ahead of the final major, the US Open, at Flushing Meadows at the end of August.

"They know how important the coming three or four months is for them in terms of keeping their mark at the top of the men's game.

"With the last major coming up there is so much to play for and I think one of those four will look to put a marker down in Montreal. You've got to throw Andy Roddick in there as well.

"It was a marvellous story, the way he came back to do so well at Wimbledon, because I must confess I had written him off at the start of the year. I didn't think he would be competitive in a major again and Juan Del Potro has got to try and build on his successes of the beginning of this year and last summer when he really started to emerge."

Aggressive

Murray can climb above Nadal to second spot in the world rankings if he goes two rounds better than the Spaniard but Cowan does not agree that the Scot plays his best tennis on the hardcourt surface.

"Murray always talks about the best chance for him to win a major is the US Open - I still feel it was Wimbledon," he said.

"I think he missed an opportunity and I'm sure on reflection he will look back and think it was a chance that went by, although Roddick played exceptionally. It was the best match I've seen the American play for a good number of years.

"But it's what you do going on from there. He will look at what let him down; he will also look at what's worked so well for him in the last year because it has been an incredible 12 months.

"If he can be a little more aggressive in the upcoming hard court events there's no reason why we can't see Murray have another great run."

Pressures

Nadal starts his campaign against the winner of the first round match between Viktor Troicki and David Ferrer and Cowan feels he could be the player to watch.

"He has had a difficult three or four months off the court, with his well-documented injury but I think also his parents splitting up hit him hard. He needed time away from the Tour to deal with the pressures of that and being World No 1.

His coach and uncle Tony, is playing down Nadal's chances saying he probably has no realistic chance of doing well in Montreal but it's all about getting his confidence.

"But you know Nadal is going to be really determined to do well. In the past year to two years he has come back well from time out.

"I don't see anything but Nadal playing some good tennis on the North American hardcourts, which in the past he's struggled on a little bit because he's played so much tennis. But now he's had a break he will be better for it."