#SmashTalk: is Federer gunning for No.1?

Roger Federer, having played an extremely sparse schedule of just seven events in 2017, raised some eyebrows by announcing he would play the Montreal Masters, his first appearance in Quebec in six years.

Does he have the No.1 ranking in his sights? Tennismash’s Paul Moore, Vivienne Christie, Matt Trollope and Leigh Rogers discuss this as well as give their thoughts on what’s next for the injury-prone Maria Sharapova and who could use a big showing in Canada.

Do you agree or disagree with our panel? Have your say on Facebook and Twitter using #SmashTalk.

Is Federer’s decision to play Rogers Cup a signal that he’s going for No.1?

Moore: Absolutely. I don’t buy into this whole narrative that neither Roger nor Rafa are that focused on the No.1. They both want it, and it’s going to be a monumental battle for it in the coming months. Rafa will undoubtedly get there first, but I think Roger is setting himself up to grab it through the Asian swing.

Christie: It’s not like Roger needs to be world No.1 again – the 302 weeks he’s spent there previously are already a record. But then, he didn’t need another Grand Slam title either – and look how much it meant to collect two more of them this season. I’m not sure Roger is aggressively pushing for top spot but I do know what a glorious addition it would be to his superstar revival.

RELATED: Federer to return to Montreal

Trollope: I didn’t immediately interpret his Montreal entry in this context – my feeling was that he must have been feeling good in his physical health and was enjoying competing enough to want to ride his recent momentum. But it makes sense – returning to world No.1 would be an incredible bonus in an already stellar year, and must be a goal in the back of his mind as he approaches the latter part of the season.

Rogers: Not at all. Federer has been meticulous in his scheduling decisions lately and been rewarded richly in Grand Slam titles. Why should chasing the No.1 ranking factor in his decision to play next week? Rather it shows that Federer is feeling fit and ready for matches, which is a promising sign for his US Open chances.

After her latest injury setback, will we ever see the best of Maria Sharapova?

Moore: Unfortunately, it increasingly looks like her body is breaking down under the pressure of being back on Tour. If that is the case it would be a real shame: whatever you think of Maria, she doesn’t deserve a career like hers to peter out in the opening rounds of minor tournaments.

Christie: You have to wonder. It’s not just that Maria is suffering injuries but that they’re varied and almost unlikely. The left forearm problem that forced her out of Stanford isn’t one you’d expect of a right-handed player. Let’s hope the longer-term is brighter; a gradual physical burnout would be a sad way for such an accomplished champion to finish.

RELATED: Sharapova forced to withdraw from Stanford

Trollope: It’s tough to say. Sharapova has rebounded plenty of times before from physical setbacks, and although she’s now 30, the fabulous form of many older players is a sign that she has many good years, potentially, ahead of her. We should consider this a year of transition for the Russian – if she’s still struggling in 2018, then serious question marks begin to surface.

Rogers: Never write off the resilient Maria Sharapova. Sure this latest setback is worrying. A left-arm injury after one match in the past two months is simply perplexing. Is she overtraining? Or can her body no longer cope with the rigours of professional tennis? With no momentum and a ranking still well outside the top 100, frustration levels for the Russian must be rising, but she is too determined and has too much to prove to walk away from the sport just yet.

It’s been a topsy-turvy year for men’s and women’s tennis. Who needs a strong performance at Rogers Cup?

Moore: It’s going to be interesting to see how Garbine Muguruza deals with her Wimbledon win. Will her form nosedive like it did after the 2016 French Open, or will this be a catalyst for the golden age of Garbi? Hopefully the latter. On the men’s side, this is the time for Dominic Thiem to stake his claim. With three of the top five out, and the Austrian on the up, he should be targeting his first Masters title.

Christie: Like any tennis fan, I’d love to see Rafa or Roger add another big win to their respective revivals, but Milos Raonic is a player that more realistically needs the title. The Canadian’s last tour title was in Brisbane over a year-and-a-half ago; with his own topsy-turvy season shaped by injury, the confidence boost of winning at home would be enormous. For Karolina Pliskova, top spot is a position that needs validating. Many will be looking for the Czech to make a winning start to the US hardcourt season.

RELATED: Murray withdraws from injury-hit Montreal Masters

Trollope: Karolina Pliskova. After the disappointment of a second-round Wimbledon exit and the somewhat hollow achievement of rising to world No.1 shortly after that, a win in Toronto would be a statement victory. It would also give her a shot of confidence ahead of the US Open, where she will be one of the favourites.

Rogers: Milos Raonic. In front of his home fans the Canadian will be determined to find some form. After finishing last year ranked No.3, the 26-year-old has slipped to No.10 and has not won a title in 19 months. In seven previous Rogers Cup main-draw appearances, he has only passed the quarterfinals once – so he has plenty to prove.