ATP Montreal Masters 1000 – Rogers Cup – Outdoor/Hard Court

Since 1881, the best players in the World have displayed their skills on Canadian courts. Making it the third oldest tournament in World Tennis after Wimbledon and the US Open. The Rogers Cup returns to Montreal, Canada, as it alternates yearly between Montreal & Toronto.

The countdown to the last grand slam of the year, the US Open, continues with the main action taking place this week in Montreal, Canada, offering an attractive prize fund of almost $5 million.

The Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is one of tennis most distinctive tournaments as it features both men’s and women’s events in two of Canada’s main cities simultaneously. Men’s in Montreal and Women’s in Toronto, alternating locations every year.

Past Rogers Cup champions include legends like Andre Agassi, Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl, Rod Laver, John McEnroe, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic among others.

Past champions, Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal will be headlining a very competitive field. The only two men to have won all grand slams this season. Also among others, World’s top 10 players like Dominic Thiem, Last week champion Alex Zverev, hometown hero Milos Raonic and Japanese star Kei Nishikori will be some of the main favourites to win the Rogers Cup on Sunday. Also watch out for Americans in-form players John Isner, Sam Querrey & Jack Sock who will also be competing for this week’s trophy.

2016 champion Novak Djokovic won’t be defending title as he is out injured for the rest of the season. World no.1 Andy Murray, French Open finalist Stan Wawrinka & Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic have also withdrawn from the tournament.

Two of my main picks won last week in Washington (Alex Zverev) and in Los Cabos (Sam Querrey). For the Rogers Cup these are my main favourites to win on Sunday.

Rafael Nadal, who will have the chance to retake the World no.1 position this week reaching the Semi-finals of the competition has not been no.1 since 6th July 2014. The Spaniard will be making his 11th appearance at the Rogers Cup and has won it three times before (2005, 2008, 2013) will be extra motivated to regain the no.1 position after 3 tough years. Nadal, age 31, who has already won 4 titles (French Open among them) and has a record of 46-7 (win/loss) this season has also been playing very well on hard courts this year and will definitely be fighting for the win this week.

Roger Federer, who turns 36 on Tuesday, is making his first appearance in Canada since losing the 2014 final to Tsonga in Toronto. He hasn’t played in Montreal since 2011. The Swiss champion, who has already won 5 titles (Australian & Wimbledon grand slams among them) and has an impressive record of 31-2 (win/loss) hasn’t lost a major or masters tournament yet this season. Winning the tournament on Sunday, could mean the race for No.1 could heat up nicely just before the US Open at the end of the month.

My last pick of the week, is Canada’s own, Milos Raonic, who at the age of 26, is making his eight appearance at the Rogers Cup. He has also reached the Quarter-finals or better in four of the last five years and a runner-up position in 2013 where he lost to Rafa Nadal. Raonic, is the highest-ranked singles player in Canadian history and will want to do well in front of his home crowd who always give him plenty of support. The World no.10, who hasn’t won yet this season but has gone deep in a couple of occasions will be inspired to take his first win of the season in front of his home country.

Finally, the Rogers Cup is about to begin and it could end up on Sunday with another Federer vs Nadal final. So for now, let’s enjoy the renaissance of Roger Federer & Rafa Nadal.