Montreal 2017

If Rafa reaches the semis in Canada he will be back at number one. So far, delpo has seen off Isner in straight sets, with Kyrgios, Monfils, Gasquet and Ferrer (who beat Edmund in three) among the other winners.
   It's back to the old days, with Rafa and Rog the top two seeds. Long way to go before a final between these two, though, although the way things have gone this year another meeting is certainly a possibility.

Thiem and Zverev as seeds 3 & 4 is a little strange.

Think Rafa will likely face Delpo in round 3.

I have a strong hunch (not sure exactly why) that at least one of the Fedal combo (not sure which) won't actually make the Final.

Re Kyle Edmund going out in three to Ferrer : Kyle has done well to get as far as a deciding set against a number of quality players this season - including the likes of Wawrinka, Raonic, Nadal, Dimitrov. But I guess he needs to start winning some of these contests if he is to get himself up to Top 20 territory, or beyond.

Kyle: Yeah, he often seems to lose in three, which I suppose is better than losing in straights but really frustrating. 
   Saw a few clips of Kyrgios. Not only a win, but he actually managed to finish the match. Such talent. But I have no high hopes of his being able to do anything with that talent.

Well I've written off Tomic (I'm very aware that most people did a long time ago ......!). But in the case of Kyrgios, am thinking that there is still a chance if he can finally, somehow, get his act together. More than enough on-court quality to win Slams. Other factors come into the mix of course, as we know.

Who is coaching him these days ...?

Kyrgios had his act together earlier this season - he pushed Fed very close and withdrew from one of the masters due to food poisoning.

Also had two wins against Djokovic in that period.

Sadly, he has pretty much been injured ever since. He seems to be trying to play through the pain, but keeps on retiring from matches. If he's 100% fit then he's in the group of potential US Open winners behind Fedal.

When Kyrgios is having a good day, injury-free, he is undoubtedly a formidable challenge for ANYbody.

Going up to MTL for the day session on Thursday - it seems there's one fewer weeks between Wimbledon and Montreal this year, and the field (not just Murray & Wawrinka) is somewhat diminished as a result. Kinda disappointing, but have to go regardless - fun event in the most underrated great city in North America.

Thiem out after Schwartzman saved four MPs in the final set. Thiem last year seemed to run out of puff towards the end of the season, so he'll be hoping that's not the case this year.
   Young Canadian Shapovalov also saved four MPs in a three-set win over Dutra Silva and will now take on delpo.

Thiem had four match points and three break points to take it into a tie-break in the final set. Was also 5-2 up in the final set.

Seems a bit of a choke.

Rafa and Rog in action today, with Rafa seeking the number one spot. Fed could face David Ferrer in the next round. A recent decent run by the Spaniard means this may not necessarily be their last meeting. Ferrer, of course, a comparative youngster, at "only" 35.

Fed wins first match 2 and 1, so not much energy expanded there. In contrast, Nishi and Monfils still on their first set.

Later: Nishi loses to Monfils after being a set and 5-2 up and also being 5-3 up in the final set. Shapavolov takes first set against delpo.

Wonder if Coric can do any damage against Rafa ... ? If he actually manages to take him down, it wouldn't be a (total) upset because he already has a positive h2h of 2-1 !  But I'm pretty sure Rafa will be too strong, based on form this season to date.

Polansky - who had sprung a surprise win in R1 over Pospisil - did at least get one more game versus Fed than in their previous meeting here back in 2014. He retweeted an amusing little clip re Fed on his Twitter feed, so the guy definitely has a sense of humour.

Monfils saved four MPs when 6-2 down in the final set tiebreak v Nishi. Shapavolov has just beaten delpo in straights to set up a likely meeting with Rafa.

Rafa beats Coric easily in straight sets - 6-1, 6-2. Not bad! Evens the H2H, one down, some more to go!

Raonic is out, while A Zverev had to save three MPs against Gasquet. Has there been a tournament when so many MPs have been saved? One of the Zverev MP saves came after a 49-stroke rally.
   Can Ferrer now do anything about the disastrous H-to-H (0-16) with Rog? Asking a lot of Shapavolov to repeat his heroics against Rafa.

Think we are looking at another Fedal clash in the final. Maybe Zverev or Kyrgios can stop Rafa?

Guest82 wrote:Think we are looking at another Fedal clash in the final.  Maybe Zverev or Kyrgios can stop Rafa?

Well we do know that Kyrgios has the necessary artillery, assuming he can hit his groove - but given how well Rafa's playing these days, I'd say he's a clear favourite v both the Aussie and Zverev.

If it is indeed a Fedal final (and I'm not so sure myself), then Rafa will be more than a little keen to snap Federer's current streak of 4-0 in their recent h2h.

lags72 wrote:

Guest82 wrote:Think we are looking at another Fedal clash in the final.  Maybe Zverev or Kyrgios can stop Rafa?

Well we do know that Kyrgios has the necessary artillery, assuming he can hit his groove -  but given how well Rafa's playing these days, I'd say he's a clear favourite v both the Aussie and Zverev.

If it is indeed a Fedal final (and I'm not so sure myself), then Rafa will be more than a little keen to snap Federer's current streak of 4-0 in their recent h2h.

They are the only players left in the draw that I give a remote chance of beating either of them. Obviously it doesn't always work out that way though, so who knows.

Rafa would certainly have a better chance here than in Cincy.

Amazing how a tough draw - delpo, Raonic - can become so much easier. although there are some possible hard matches ahead for Rafa. Like Lags72, I have a sneaking feeling it may not be a Fedal final but I doubt that many would be surprised if it was.

RBA has levelled at one set all to take Monfils into a decider.

R BA beats Monfils after final set tiebreak. Think I'm right in saying Monfils had MPs in second set. If so, yet another match in this tourney in which the victor saved MPs.

Can the Little Man beat TMF?

I think he can. Stranger things have happened.

He deserves at least one victory before they both hang up their racquets !

Nobody beats David Ferrer 17 times in a row.

But Federer just did. Oh noooo. That's not fair.

Give him just one win. Do the decent thing, Roger.

I guess not, but unshaven Federer needs Mirka and the kids to play better. :crazy:

Shapovalov shocks Nadal in a third-set TB 7-4.

What a joy!

Shapovalov is seriously good and seriously watchable.  He was a bit lucky early in the third set when he was hanging in his service games by fingernails and he was pulling trigger again and again, and making it.  But all in all, a deserved win.

Some big firepower, but also playing mostly mature tennis.  There were a few occasions where he could have easily lost concentration and thrown in the towel.  I thought he was done in the second set when he went from 4:1 and BPs for 5:1 up to 4:4 and 0-30.  But he regrouped and held steady.

Will this one day come to be seen as the tournament when the exciting 18 year-old (and currently ranked just 143) Denis Shapovalov "announced" himself .......?

He impressed the home crowd in taking out Del Potro yesterday and now rallies from a set down to delay Rafa's hopes of regaining Number One.

Home 'advantage' so often brings excess pressure for many players but perhaps Shapovalov is the strong type who can thrive on it.

Makes for an really interesting clash now versus Zverev.

lags72 wrote:Makes for an really interesting clash now versus Zverev.

Mannarino first.  And who knows if Shapovalov will be emotionally able to get himself ready for that match.  If he can, the match is winnable.

Hopefully this is how the rest of Rafa's HC season will go.  He is 31 now, maybe time to retire

My dream is to see Rafa, Nole and Andy retire later this year or early next year, and see them all at Wimbledon next year watching Fed lift the trophy

Ah thanks SB. Had lost track of the draw. And yes, a big standout win is so often followed by a next round dip against a lesser opponent.

But some serious progress & experience here for young Denis, either way

And I think he deserves a cooler first name than Denis, too.

(that was another good thing - amongst many - about Borg .........)

After Denis took out delpo I didn't think he would stand much of a chance against Rafa. The Spaniard said he played badly and that Shapavolov played well, but it's still a big shock.
   I thought Rog might have a few probs against Ferrer and so it proved, but that ghastly H to H (0-17) only got worse in the end. R BA had a very long match against Monfils and I think Rog will play much better today - and serve better.
  Amid all the Rog-Rafa excitement it's easy to overlook another poor result for  Dimi. He's had some shockers this season.

sirfredperry wrote:After Denis took out delpo I didn't think he would stand much of a chance against Rafa. The Spaniard said he played badly and that Shapavolov played well, but it's still a big shock.
   I thought Rog might have a few probs against Ferrer and so it proved, but that ghastly H to H (0-17) only got worse in the end. R BA had a very long match against Monfils and I think Rog will play much better today - and serve better.
  Amid all the Rog-Rafa excitement it's easy to overlook another poor result for  Dimi. He's had some shockers this season.

The draw had opened up for Dimitrov, he should really have made the semi-finals here. Makes me even sadder about Thiem losing too.

One of Haase/Schwartzman and one of Shapovalov/Mannarino is going to play a masters semi-final...

You have to wonder where Dimi's energy goes. But then you see him chilling out with beautiful girlfriends !

sirfredperry wrote:You have to wonder where Dimi's energy goes. But then you see him chilling out with beautiful girlfriends !

Dimitrov clever like fox, no?

reckoner wrote:

sirfredperry wrote:You have to wonder where Dimi's energy goes. But then you see him chilling out with beautiful girlfriends !

Dimitrov clever like fox, no?

Saf-in-progress ?

laverfan wrote:

reckoner wrote:

sirfredperry wrote:You have to wonder where Dimi's energy goes. But then you see him chilling out with beautiful girlfriends !

Dimitrov clever like fox, no?

Saf-in-progress ?

HA, could be!

summerblues wrote:Hopefully this is how the rest of Rafa's HC season will go.  He is 31 now, maybe time to retire

My dream is to see Rafa, Nole and Andy retire later this year or early next year, and see them all at Wimbledon next year watching Fed lift the trophy

We all have dreams... mine is to see Federer retire then we can both be happy

Haddie-nuff wrote:

summerblues wrote:Hopefully this is how the rest of Rafa's HC season will go.  He is 31 now, maybe time to retire

My dream is to see Rafa, Nole and Andy retire later this year or early next year, and see them all at Wimbledon next year watching Fed lift the trophy

We all have dreams... mine is to see Federer retire then we can both be happy

Both will inevitably retire. The question is one of when?

The unkempt Federer wins, again.

4 and 4 for Fed. Just 68 minutes for that one, keeping himself reasonably fresh. Haase next.

laverfan wrote:

Haddie-nuff wrote:

summerblues wrote:Hopefully this is how the rest of Rafa's HC season will go.  He is 31 now, maybe time to retire

My dream is to see Rafa, Nole and Andy retire later this year or early next year, and see them all at Wimbledon next year watching Fed lift the trophy

We all have dreams... mine is to see Federer retire then we can both be happy

Both will inevitably retire. The question is one of when?

My remark was addressed to sb who never resists the opportunity to voice his opinion of Nadal.. to just make him aware that not all of us worship at the shrine of Federer but that we resist the temptation of telling the whole forum ad nauseam . especially when it is uncalled for .. but heh pardon me I'm feeling particularly sensitive just now

Haddie-nuff wrote: .. but heh pardon me I'm feeling particularly sensitive just now

There is no need to apologize, H-n. Nadal's first HC, and on a faster court. He will find his feet.

Third-set Shapovalov v Mannarino.

Glad to see Shapovalov in the SF.  When he went 0:4 down in the first set I was worried this match would be a big let-down after last night.

Whoever he plays tomorrow, if he continues playing like this, he will have a shot at the final, where he would hopefully meet Federer (or Haase ?).  I would quite enjoy Fed vs Shapovalov.  Two single-handers, both willing to play quite aggressive.  One twice as old as the other.

summerblues wrote:Glad to see Shapovalov in the SF.  When he went 0:4 down in the first set I was worried this match would be a big let-down after last night.

Whoever he plays tomorrow, if he continues playing like this, he will have a shot at the final, where he would hopefully meet Federer (or Haase ?).  I would quite enjoy Fed vs Shapovalov.  Two single-handers, both willing to play quite aggressive.  One twice as old as the other.

Yep and it would be great to see the teenager win wouldn't it   ?