TennisToday

David Nalbandian into Quarterfinals in Toronto

Toronto Masters Series 1000 - 3rd Round

David Nalbandian d 5 Robin Soderling - 46 64 61

I told you on Sunday after he won in DC that he'd be seeded at the US Open.

His win today will move him up to about #35 - a win tomorrow & ta-da!

And he has exactly ZERO points to defend next week in Cincy.

With the DC title & 2 Davis Cup rubbers he has won 11 matches straight.

Wasting away: I think this is the thinnest we have ever seen David.

Photo: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal Wins 1st Match Since Winning Wimbledon

Toronto Masters 1000 - 2nd Round

1 Rafael Nadal d Stanislas Wawrinka - 76(12) 63

One word sums this match up more than any other: rust. Yikes.

But what can you expect after six weeks off...

And let's not ignore that he's never been much of a night player either.

Tomorrow he will face tricky big serving Kevin Anderson: H2H: 0-0.

So what's with Rafa & Roger and their ice cream kits in Toronto?

Last night Roger looked like neopolitan ice cream...

Tonight Rafa look like a Strawberry Shortcake Popsicle!

Novak Djokovic Beats Heat to Advance in Toronto

Toronto Masters 1000 - 2nd Round

2 Novak Djokovic d Julien Benneteau - 75 75

Another of those Novak can't breath matches...

It makes me crazy when people say it's his fitness.

Hello, he has a medical condition - it's called asthema.

Last I heard, no cure. And those inhalers are banned on the ATP tour.

You go out there and try playing like that.

Yea, that's what I thought.

Photo: Getty Images

Pretty in Pink in Toronto: Roger Federer Wins 1st Match since Wimbledon

Toronto ATP Masters 1000 - 1st Round

3 Roger Federer d Juan Ignacio Chela - 76(7) 63

Roger let that 1st set get needlessly tight causing Fed fans more nerves.

This was Roger's 1st match since losing to Berdych in the Qf's at Wimby.

Roger will next play Michael Llodra: 0-0. How have these 2 never played?!

Well, they played a challenger in 1999 - which Fed won, easily.

Now, I wasn't too crazy about the pink - if I'm being honest...

In fact, someone on Twitter aptly suggested that he looked like this:

Sexy Tennis Star Abs in Toronto: Fernando Verdasco vs Nicolas Almagro

Way better than tapas!

Photos: Hit it Tennis' Twitter

Andy Murray vs Novak Djokovic - In Ball Signing in Toronto

This could easily be our final on Sunday. I wouldn't object.

Photos: Rogers Cup Twitter

Well that Rafael Nadal/Novak Djokovic doubles experiment didn't last very long

But they sure looked cute while it lasted.

Toronto ATP Masters 1000 - 1st Round Doubles

WC Pospisil & Raonic d Djokovic & Nadal - 57 63 10-8

Damn, so close. Try again in Cincy? Please.

Photo: Reuters

This Week the Men's ATP Tour Moves to Toronto

Toronto ATP Masters Series 1000

Seeded Players - Best Result

1. Rafael Nadal - Champion '05 & '08

2. Novak Djokovic - Champion '07

3. Roger Federer - Champion in '04 & '06

4. Andy Murray (above) - Champion '09

5. Robin Soderling - Round of 16 in '08

6. Nicolay Davydenko - Quarterfinalist '07 & '09

7. Tomas Berdych - Quarterfianlist '06

8. Andy Roddick - Champion '03

***

Projected Quarterfinals

1 Rafael Nadal vs 8 Andy Roddick

Also in quarter: 11 Marin Cilic, 16 Sam Querrey, Janko Tipsarevic

***

4 Andy Murray vs 5 Robin Soderling

Also in loaded quarter: 10 David Ferrer, 16 Gael Monfils, David Nalbandian

Feliciano Lopez, Thiemo De Bakker, Ernests Gulbis, Fernando Gonzalez

***

3 Roger Federer vs 7 Tomas Berdych

Also in quarter: 12 Mikhail Youzhny, 14 Nicolas Almagro, Gilles Simon

***

2 Novak Djokovic vs 6 Nicolay Davydenko

Also in quarter: 9 Fernando Verdasco, 13 Jurgen Melzer, Marcos Baghdatis

Photo: Reuters

David Nalbandian Wins ATP 500 Title in DC

Washington, DC ATP 500 Winner

WC David Nalbandian d 8 Marcos Baghdatis - 62 76(4)

David earns his 11th career title & 1st since Sidney in January '09.

He will add 500 ranking points and move from #117 to about #45.

A couple of decents weeks in the upcoming Masters 1000's...

He has no point to defend - seeded by the US Open?

It'll be tough in Toronto tho as he faces #10 David Ferrer in the 1st round.

He's also in the Andy Murray/Robin Soderling quarter.

I'm guessing tho that David is not a player any of them want to play early.

But the real question is: can he stay healthy for the next month or so?

***

Marcos will begin play in Toronto against Jeremy Chardy.

He is in the Novak Djokovic/Nicolay Davydenko quarter.

Let's hope both players can avoid the tour curse...

Play the weekend one week - lose early the next.

Photo: Reuters

Roger Federer - Happy Birthday!!!

The greatest tennis player of all-time turns 29 years old today.

The Rogers Cup officials presented him a cake in Toronto.

And they let hockey star Sidney Crosby present it for the photo-op.

Roger has won the title in Toronto twice before: '04 & '06.

He's been having a difficult year - losing a lot of matches to 0-fers.

Seeded #3, Roger has a 1st round bye then will play either Chela or Falla.

Danger ahead: Tomas Berdych is the big seed in his quarter.

Tomas has won their last 2 meetings - this year in Miami & at Wimbledon.

29 is NOT over-the-hill & I'm thinking Roger will have a nice USO Series.

Enjoy your day Roger.

Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic Practice Together is Toronto

As you may know by now Rafa & Novak are playing dubs together in Toronto.

It's only the 2nd time in the Open Era that #1 & #2 have teamed up.

The other team was Jimmy Connors & Arthur Ashe in 1976.

While this is exciting for tennis my big fear here is...

A deep run in single & dubs and one or both of them will pull from Cincy.

Just sayin'...

I want his physio's life. Humph!

Photo's: Hit it Tennis Twitter

Lock up your daughters Toronto - Fernando Verdasco & Feliciano Lopez have hit town!

Fernando tweeted this photo last night from Toronto.

Sure, they look innocent enough...

#9 Fernando will open against Eduardo Schwank - he's in Djokovic's quarter.

Lopez will open against Thiemo De Bakker - he is in Murray's quarter.

He is also playing doubles with another Spanish hottie - David Ferrer.

Oh to be in Toronto...

Rafael Nadal's Day at the CN Tower in Toronto - In Photos

Rafa & I share this in common - we've both been to the top of the CN Tower.

Photos: Rogers Cup  Facebook

Rafael Nadal Pulls Draw for Toronto ATP Master's 1000 - Rafa & Roger on Opposite Sides of the Draw

Yes, I am one of the few bozo's that actually watched the live feed.

I loved in the beginning how they didn't know if Rafa would be 'uncomfortable' with placing Roger in the draw and they were going to have someone else do it - Rafa just shrugged, "For me is not a problem."

As it turned out he pulled #4 Andy Murray's name to join him in the top half of the draw which naturally put Roger in the bottom. So the next installment of the Rafa/Roger show can not happened before the final.

I haven't actually seen the draw yet but both players have their work cut out for them if they are to meet in the final. These Masters 1000 events are brutal right from round one.

There was a short Q&A after the draw was complete and of course Rafa was asked about 'the knees' - he reassured the panting press that they are 100%.

I'll do my usual preview of the draw on Sunday.

Roger Federer Practices in Toronto

 

Federer fans the World over will be thrilled he's working on that backhand.

Ranked #3 it'll be interesting to see if he ends up Rafa's half of the draw.

This is Roger's 1st tournament seeded as low as #3 since Houston in '03.

He & Novak lost in the Qf's last year which means, drumroll...

A bad result for Novak & a better result from Roger - he's #2 again.

Could happen.

Roger is the '04 & '06 champion in Canada - both in Toronto.

I have a feeling Roger may just play critic-silencing tennis this summer.

We'll know in a few days.

Photo:  Rogers Cup Twitter

Rafael Nadal is on His Way to Toronto...

Two things of note: Rafa is doing the draw ceremony at the top of the CN Tower tomorrow afternoon andhe's playing doubles in Toronto with Novak Djokovic. Hmm, maybe Novak can don that Shakira wig and they can actually re-enact that video. I'd be down with that!

In the meantime all you Rafanatics, here is a (yet another) video of him at the airport - this time leaving for Toronto. Again, no idea what's being said but the footage is nice.