ROGER FEDERER, ALEXANDER ZVEREV HEAD TO CINCINNATI TENNIS • RAFA NADAL HEADLINES

Written by: on 13th August 2017
Rogers Cup men's tennis in Montreal
ROGER FEDERER, ALEXANDER ZVEREV HEAD TO CINCINNATI TENNIS • RAFA NADAL HEADLINES

epa06136700 Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Denis Shapovalov of Canada during the third round of the Rogers Cup ATP men's tennis tournament in Montreal, Canada, 10 August 2017. EPA/ANDRE PICHETTE  |

By Ricky Dimon

 

Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev are on a collision course for the Western & Southern Open semis after squaring off in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday afternoon.

 

The two finalists in Montreal are now making their way to Cincinnati for a second straight Masters 1000 event and they are in the same half of the bracket. Among those standing in their way of a rematch are Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, Juan Martin Del Potro, and John Isner.

 

Federer is looking at a relatively tough path through the draw–certainly compared to what was on his menu at Wimbledon and in Montreal. The former world No. 1 could kick off his campaign against Karen Khachanov before possible meetings with Jack Sock and Del Potro. Zverev could run into a pair of huge servers–Isner and Raonic–prior to the semifinals.

 

“I’m just really happy for him, to see that he’s taking everything not just to the next level, but the two next levels–winning two Masters 1000s,” Federer said of the man who beat him 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday. “It’s extremely difficult to win. He’s won two this year. It’s a wonderful achievement for him. I wish him the best for the coming months and hope he can finish the season very strong because there [are] opportunities now.”

 

Zverev and others have major opportunities now with all kings top players injured. Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka are out for the season and world No. 1 Andy Murray is currently on the sidelines. So, too, are Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori. Murray’s absence means Nadal is the top seed in Cincinnati, where he is looking to get back on track following a third-round loss to Denis Shapovalov in Montreal. Nadal awaits either Richard Gasquet or John-Patrick Smith before a likely rematch with Gilles Muller, who upset the 15-time major champion in a five-set stunner at Wimbledon. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nick Kyrgios are also part of a tough top quarter in Cincinnati.

 

Nishikori was a late withdrawal this week, leaving Dominic Thiem as the only top-four seed in the second section of the bracket. He could be challenged by Montreal semifinalist Robin Haase and Los Cabos winner Sam Querrey.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.

 

Topics: , , , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.