MEN’S TOUR NEWS FROM THE ROGERS CUP: BENNETEAU, DODIG ON THE RISE BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 7th August 2014

MEN'S TOUR NEWS FROM THE ROGERS CUP: BENNETEAU, DODIG ON THE RISE BY RICKY DIMON

epa04153938 Julien Benneteau of France in action against Tobias Kamke of Germany during the Day One's single match of the Davis Cup World Group quarter-final match between France and Germany at Sport's Arena Jean Weille in Nancy, eastern France, 04 April 2014. EPA/NICOLAS BOUVY |

With less than three weeks to go before the U.S. Open, the Rogers Cup gives players not only a chance for success at a big tournament but it also opens the door for a major ranking improvement and perhaps a seeded spot at the year’s final Grand Slam. So far in Toronto, Julien Benneteau and Ivan Dodig are taking advantage.

Wednesday summary

Four unseeded players booked their spots in the Rogers Cup third round with victories on Wednesday. Benneteau continued his impressive week, following up a 6-1, 6-2 rout of Lleyton Hewitt with a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Ernests Gulbis. Dodig outlasted Andreas Seppi 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5). Feliciano Lopez won an all-unseeded affair with Tim Smyczek 7-5, 6-4 and Kevin Anderson ousted Fabio Fognini 7-5, 6-2.

Gael Monfils nearly became the most surprising (considering his opponent) entrant in the last 16. Monfils came within two points of toppling world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, but the Serb survived 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(2) after two hours and 41 minutes of uproarious action.

“In a way it was fun, of course, and entertaining to be part of this match,” Djokovic commented. “I enjoyed it. I tried to take the positives from this long match, and those are obviously the fact that I stayed over two and a half hours on the court and I have not played an official hard court match since the Miami final. That helps obviously to play a little bit more, to feel the court, to feel the conditions.”

The top seed is also joined in the third round by Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer, Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, Andy Murray, Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Marin Cilic, and Tommy Robredo. Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka advanced on Tuesday.

Briefs

* Benneteau rolls over both Hewitt and Gulbis, needs one more win for top 40.

* Dodig takes out Isner and Seppi, likely up nine spots and into top 50.

* Gasquet edges Karlovic, needs one more victory to remain 13th.

* Robredo rolling, must win at least one more match for top 16.

* Anderson downs Fognini, nearly assured of breaking into top 20.

* Lopez cruises into third round, on cusp of top 20 if he reaches quarterfinals.

* Simon falls, but still into seeded position for U.S. Open (likely 31st).

* Pospisil’s opening loss will send him all the way out of top 40.

* Kyrgios loses to Murray, but still guarantees place in top 60.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Ernests Gulbis, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Ivan Dodig, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Julien Benneteau, Lleyton Hewitt, milos raonic, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Rogers Cup, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tim Smyzcek, Tomas Berdych

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10sBalls_com says:

August 7, 2014 at 11:31 am

MEN’S TOUR NEWS FROM THE @rogerscupto: @julienbenneteau, DODIG ON THE RISE BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/v87KC46Cz5 #tennis #atp #toronto
RD_Tennistalk says:

August 7, 2014 at 11:35 am

RT @10sBalls_com: MEN’S TOUR NEWS FROM THE @rogerscupto: @julienbenneteau, DODIG ON THE RISE BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/v87KC46Cz5 #te…