Talented Townsend may prosper on her Canadian journey

Starts 4pm Monday

It's 10-1 bar the favourite Lucie Safarova in the title betting for the Coupe Banque Nationale, which starts in Quebec City on Monday, but with the early market-setters quoting no player at bigger than 50-1 there's more than a whiff of caution in the air as far as the oddsmakers are concerned.

Last year Oceane Dodin displayed her mercurial talents to capture her first WTA main-tour title. The Frenchwoman is joint-second favourite for a repeat, but offers little interest at the available prices.

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The same applies to Timea Babos, the limited Hungarian who tends to capitalise when others come up short. But with not all the seeds being ranked in the top 100, it's a weaker affair than this week’s other tournament in Tokyo so perhaps we should not be surprised to see the layers clamp­ing down on percentages.

Safarova, champion in Quebec City in 2013 and runner-up there in 2009, could go well and the Czech's game was in decent shape in the US Open.

Experienced Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak, semi-finalist in 2009, was advised last year to spring a surprise but failed to figure and this year it could pay to side with one of the many North American performers.

A raft of talented USA young­sters have travelled to Quebec, while Francoise Abanda may now be good enough to strike a blow for the home nation.

Bianca Andreescu is an interesting contender. The Canadian looks as if she has a bright future, although it would be a terrific performance to win this indoor carpet event aged just 17.

Take a chance on Chicago native Taylor Townsend stepping up in the easier bottom half of the draw. The Australian Open junior champion in 2012 could have enough to see off her early opponents and the seeds in her section.

Recommendation
T Townsend
1pt 20-1 bet365, Betfred

Tournament lowdown
Venue PEPS, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
Prize money $250,000 ($43,000 to winner)
Category International (280 ranking points to winner)
Surface Indoor Uniturf carpet
Ball Wilson US Open
When to bet Starts 4pm Monday
Time difference Quebec City is five hours behind the UK and Ireland

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