Denis Shapovalov shocked Rafael Nadal in Montreal as Andy Murray clings on to world no.1 spot

Source: USA Today Sports

Andy Murray will remain as the world's no.1 for another week after 18-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov stunned Rafael Nadal at the Rogers Cup.

"It's what I dreamed of all my life growing up, playing guys like Rafa (Nadal), Roger (Federer), Andy (Murray)," said Shapovalov. "You know, my dream came true today."

The victory put him into the quarterfinal against France's Adrian Mannarino, who beat Hyeon Chung. It was considered one of the biggest wins in Canadian tennis history and it came at the tournament that some still call the Canadian Open. Do check out the online tennis betting odds leading towards the exciting weekend matches.

Source: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images North America

Shapovalov became the youngest player to reach the tournament's quarterfinals since Bjorn Borg in 1974. He also became the youngest quarterfinalist at a Masters Series tournament ever and is the youngest to beat a player ranked in the top two in the world since Nadal beat Federer in 2004 in Miami. For more online tennis betting odds for Shapovalov and other players' upcoming tennis matches, do check out Online Betting NZ.

Shapovalov will reach his goal of moving into the top 100 in the world next week that saw him save four match points in a first round win over Rogerio Dutra Silva, then went on to beat 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round before defeated Nadal.

Nadal, who could have claimed the No. 1 ranking if he had reached the semifinals this week, said it was the worst match he played all year, but he had kind words for Shapovalov.

"He played well," the Spaniard said. "He has a great potential."

"I wish him the best. He has everything to become a great player. He played with the right determination in the important moments."

Nadal will have a chance to overtake Murray in the rankings after next week's Cincinnati Masters, but faces a challenge from Roger Federer, who could prevent the Nadal from reaching the top spot for the first time since 2014.

Happy Belated Birthday to Roger Federer

Honestly I did remember Roger Federer's birthday... I may be 2 days late but at least I still give the 29-year-old a belated wish...

Here he is sharing a cake with Sidney Crosby at the Rogers Cup. Crosby is a Canadian professional ice hockey player whom I initially thought a ball boy. :P

(Image via menstennisforums.com)

Weekend winners: Roger Federer's no. 16; Elena Dementieva bites in disbelief

C'mon stop djoking... this trophy looks like mine...

Roger Federer captured his 16th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters after defeating Novak Djokovic 6-1, 7-5 in just one hour and 31 minutes.

Is the number 16 going to bring him more luck at the US Open? We'll see!

In the men's doubles final, Nenad Zimonjic and Daniel Nestor took down home favourite Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan.

The American twin brothers defeat is understandable as they are busy preparing for the launch of their debut album in September.

Elena Dementieva had to bite herself to believe she had won the Rogers Cup title yesterday.

The no. 4 seed had a bad start against Maria Sharapova but soon took over the match and won 6-4, 6-3.

Will she be able to maintain her top form (and most importantly not choke up) at the US Open to eventually win her first Grand Slam?

Let's discuss this again when Dementieva can get into the semifinals.

In the women's doubles, Spaniards Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez defeated Australians Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs.

(Images by Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Maria Sharapova looking for a taste of success

Russians Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva will meet in Sunday's final after each won their respective semifinal matches on Saturday at the Rogers Cup.

Sharapova took down Alisa Kleybanova 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to secure her spot in the finals and a chance to win her first title after 8 months of injury layoff.

Earlier, Dementieva defeated Serena Williams 7-6, 6-1 in 1 hour and 41 minutes.

This will be the 11th all-time meeting between Sharapova and Dementieva, with Sharapova leading the head-to-head series 8-2.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Super Saturday's semifinals

It's going to be an explosive Saturday when all top 4 seeds at Cincinnati Masters collided in the semifinal matches tonight.

New world no.2 Murray will face no. 1 Roger Federer first.

Federer, who won this tournament in 2005 and 2007, extended his winning streak against Lleyton Hewitt to 13 matches with a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Murray, the defending champion, defeated 'lucky loser' Julien Benneteau 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Meanwhile third-ranked and second-seeded Rafael Nadal beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5, setting up a semifinals rematch with fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic, who beat Nadal in straight sets in last year’s Cincinnati semifinal, won 6-4, 7-5 over Gilles Simon.

Nadal, playing just his second tournament since the French Open due to tendinitis in both knees, declared himself “very happy” with his progress.

In the women's singles, second-seeded Serena Williams breezed through to the semifinals of the Rogers Cup on Friday with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Lucie Safarova.

Williams will next face no. 4 Elena Dementieva, who advanced with a tough three-set win over Samantha Stosur.

In another semifinals, Alisa Kleybanova will face off with Maria Sharapova after a gruelling 6-7 (6), 7-6 (7), 6-2 win over Jelena Jankovic, while Sharapova overcame Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 7-6 (5).

(Via AP; Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki stop traffic in Toronto

Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki were at the Yonge Street in Toronto yesterday to recreate the 1995 Agassi/Sampras Nike ad.

They actually played real exhibition match on the street.

Ivanovic won 7-3 in the friendly game. Now, it's time to win real matches.


(Images via Great Tennis Photos, Toronto Grand Prix Tourist)

Maria Sharap-awe-va: A synonym for glamour and beauty

Maria Sharapova continues her strong comeback in Toronto at the Rogers Cup.

Before the tournament, she attended the tournament draw in a chic-looking dress.

Why is she always this beautiful?

Sharapova is scheduled to face fellow Russian Nadia Petrova in the first round today.

Earlier she stopped at a Tag Heuer event to promote her sponsor.

(Images via sports.sina.com.cn)

Montreal magic for new world no.2 Andy Murray, Jelena Jankovic proves Serbian tennis still kick ass

I only needed a cup of 3-in-1 white coffee to keep me awake whole night for the Rogers Cup final.

I would say that this is one of the best "non-Nadal" match I ever watched for a very long time.

Although I was rooting for Juan Martin del Potro, I didn't mind the eventual title winner was Andy Murray.

Andy, you suck!

After all, Murray, the new world no.2 was clearly the winner in that battle of the fittest.

The Scottish tennis star defeated the Argentine 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-1 to win his fourth Masters title.

In Cincinnati, Jelena Jankovic captured her only second title of the year after defeated world no.1 Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-2.

Haha... Safina, yours is smaller than mine!

Now that Jankovic is back in her game, I'm hoping that fellow Serbian Ana Ivanovic will improve her game and eventually end her title drought too.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

TENNIS WATCH: The Bryan Brothers Band, Djokovic's new coach, Davis Cup, top 8 in Montreal, Clijsters' in Williams' out

From chest bumping to music recording, Bob and Mike Bryan are set to take the music world by storm with the release of their debut album "Let It Rip", with close friend and accomplished singer/songwriter David Baron on September 1, 2009.

The album will contain 5 songs that feature Bob playing the bass and keyboards, Mike on the drums, and Baron as the lead vocalist also playing piano and guitar.

More information on The Bryan Brothers Band Featuring David Baron can be found on www.bryanbrosband.com, which will be made live before their debut at Arthur Ashe Kids Day.

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Novak Djokovic will be training under Todd Martin after Cincinnati. Martin is the new addition to Djokovic's team, which will continue to engage with full-time coach Marian Vajda.

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World Group Davis Cup dates for next year are out:

World Group First round (5-7 March)
World Group Quarterfinals (9-11 July)
World Group Semifinals and World Group Play-offs (17-19 September)
World Group Final (3-5 December)

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For the first time, all top eight-ranked players in the world have reached the quarterfinals in Montreal.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nikolay Davydenko have all made their way to the final eight at the Masters event.

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Kim Clijsters continues her winning comeback, defeating 2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the Cincinnati quarterfinals.

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Serena Williams is ousted 7-5, 6-4 by Sybille Bammer in Cincinnati.

With Venus' loss to Flavia Pennetta earlier, both Williams sisters are out of the tournament.

Rafael Nadal survives first match, looking forward to have real test

Surprisingly, the one who limped off the court is not Rafael Nadal. It was his compatriot David Ferrer.

Nadal won his first match since May when Ferrer retired with a left knee injury in the first set of their match at the Rogers Cup.

Nadal led 4-3 when Ferrer informed the chair umpire he could not continue.

The world no.2's next opponent in the third round is Philipp Petzschner and Nadal is looking forward to have real test.

Here's the post-match interview:

Q. Little shorter than you might have liked today?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I never expect this, this bad thing for David, so I just ‑‑ I can say sorry to him and just wish him the very fast recovery to be ready for Cincinnati.

So, yeah, I know it's tough to have to go out and have to go out of court, so yeah, just sorry for him. And for me, it was nice have a victory like this, and I say before I here to improve every day, to enjoy every game, every point. Just like this, I going to have chances to be ready as fast as possible.

Q. How did you feel playing the match after such a long time?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, a little bit strange, no? The first movements is tough and hard to move well and to feel confident when you are touching the ball.

But, you know, that's the normal thing. I have to ‑‑ I must be happy, because I didn't play terrible. And the next round, I have another chance tomorrow to continuing to improve. Every match, every game is important to feel better for me.

Q. How are your knees?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, was okay. Need more days to have real test, but it was okay.

Q. Did you find the doubles matches helped you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, the doubles is important or the two matches of doubles was important matches for me to start, to compete, no? Always these matches help me.

Q. You're saying that you like to learn more and more every day and you're always trying to improve. It's something to watch you on the court because we see if you're practicing, learning a new skill like, for example, last year your serve on grass or your backhand changing maybe a little bit. The coach was telling me he saw a difference at the Australian Open. For the different surfaces you're always improving a lot on the court, but I feel like the challenges you've gone through in the last couple months are all challenges off the court. Do you see that as just another part of tennis, another element that you have to learn to prepare for dealing with injury, dealing with setbacks that you're not used to facing?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Through translation.)
No, you know, the calendar is tough, and you don't have a lot of choices, no? For me, you can learn because the career always every year is an experience and you can learn about everything, but I think when you play, if not the one or the second who play more matches the last five years, it's normal to have some problems.

Q. What I'm saying is you see injury as just another part of tennis the same way a forehand is. Do you see setbacks off the court? Tennis is a very all‑encompassing game.
THE MODERATOR: What is the question?

Q. Do you see injury, coming back from injury, as just another part of the game, just like...
RAFAEL NADAL: Everybody, when you injury, you have to come back. hat I can say? Is a normal thing of sports, so that's it.

Q. Andy Roddick said the courts are very slow and the ball was moving slow. You felt that?
RAFAEL NADAL: The court was very slow?

Q. Yeah, the court was very slow.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I didn't think so, no, no.

No, I don't know. He's coming from Washington, no? So the feeling for the players always depends. If the week before you play in a faster place and next week you play in a little bit of slower place, you feel like it's very slow. And if you're playing in a slow place and the next week you play in a little bit faster, you feel like it's very fast. So it's always depends on the last feeling you had.

I think the court is not very fast and not very slow. I think it's between.

Q. What was the feeling of walking out on a court for a real match again after all that time?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it's always a pleasure to come back, and the feeling ‑‑ well, only happen one month and a half; it's not three years outside of tennis. That's the true, no?

Sure, it's happy to come back here and playing another time. But the feeling is normal, like always. I feel well when I go on court all the time, and today wasn't an exception.

Sure, when you have a few time outside of competition, when you come back it's a little bit more exciting.

Q. Can you give an example of how hardcourts are tougher on your body than maybe clay courts or grass courts?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, let's talk about the same, no? I say 200,000 times, yeah, the hardcourt is tougher for the body than the grass and clay. No doubt of that. I think nobody have a doubt of that. That's it.

Q. Were you trying to be a little careful today, or were you going all the way on your body?
RAFAEL NADAL: I tried. I tried everything, put my 100%, but when you come back from an injury, it's difficult to move well the first match. You have more matches to get the confidence of the movements, on the feeling of the ball, so I need more time.

Q. Is it a positive first match? Is it a positive first test?
RAFAEL NADAL: Anything gonna be ‑‑ everything gonna be positive. Only bad thing can be is if I have another time problems with the knees, but the rest of the things, everything is positive, no? Every match, every point. Because everything is helping me to be ready as soon as possible when I return to my level.

Right now I'm probably not at my best level, but everything is important. If I lose tomorrow and if I have a match, is it going to be interesting for me to have more hours on court?

Q. You struggled with your first serve. Are you a little bit disappointed about that?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, it's ‑‑ it's normal. The feeling, it's different now because I practice during the afternoon and the ball was faster than right now, the night. The ball was bigger.

No, I didn't ‑‑ I was serving really well, all the day, practicing. The first day, first match, a little bit nervous. At the same time, David is a big returner.

At the same time, I want to push a little bit more than usual. After, when I had the 3‑All, the match from 3‑2 to 3‑3, I have some serves slow. I was serving 190, 195, 200, and in this game, I had some serve, 175, so that's give me more confidence, no?

Q. Can you just talk about your next opponent (Philipp Petzschner).
RAFAEL NADAL: He's a very aggressive player, no? Very good serve, very good forehand.

Today he had very good win against Robredo. Yeah, sure, every match going to be very difficult for me.

(Interview transcript via Rogers Cup official website)

TENNIS WATCH: Kei Nishikori, Rogers Cup, Kim Clijsters

Kei Nishikori withdrew from the US Open.

According to IMG, Nishikori underwent a small microscopic surgery to remove a minor bone spur last week under the care of. Dr. Saito in Tokyo.

Kei is expected to be back on the court and start practice in about 4-6 weeks.

IMG is currently finalizing Nishikori’s protected ranking with the ATP, which will enable him to participate in most of the big tournaments in the first half of 2010.

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Back to Montreal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic all won their opening matches at the Rogers Cup.

Federer defeated Canadian Frederic Niemeyer 7-6(3), 6-4.

Djokovic overcame another home favourite, Peter Polansky, 6-4, 7-6(6).

Murray had an easy won against Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-2.

In the doubles event, Rafael Nadal and Francisco Roig was defeated by doubles specialist Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram in a super tiebreak round 2 match with the results 6-4, 3-6, 8-10.

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Congrats to comeback queen Kim Clijsters for winning her first WTA match in straight sets, defeating world no.13 Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-3.

It'll be interesting to see her dominate women's tennis again.

VIDEO: Novak Djokovic's scandalous pic leaked... now here's the tape!

You've seen the photos... now here's the video!

Find out how Novak Djokovic teased the crowd and then stripped down to his undies.

Do check out the interviews with Djokovic and Tommy Robredo at the Players Evening. The behind-the-scene at the fashion show is pretty hilarious and fun to watch too.

Novak Djokovic stripped to his briefs in Montreal, again!

It seems like the Canadians enjoy watching Novak Djokovic stripped to his undies. He did it in Montreal back in 2007.

And he did it again last Sunday.

As he strutted down the catwalk in an oriental-style jacket, the Serbian was mentioned in the ATP website to have "provocatively teased the crowd as he made his way around the stage, before dropping the jacket to pose in just his underwear, much to the enjoyment of the audience".

I'm better on the catwalk than I'm in the court these days!

Tadaaaa!! Here's the proof!

Other ATP World Tour stars who made their appearances on the catwalk (no striptease, though) were Tommy Robredo, Jurgen Melzer, Jeremy Chardy, Mark Knowles, Yen-Hsun Lu, Simon Aspelin, Paul Hanley, Teimuraz Gabashvili, Milos Raonic and Mischa Zverev.

Rendy Lu Yen-hsun

Tommy Robredo

Jurgen Melzer

Jeremy Chardy

(Images by Arturo Velazque via ATP World Tour website)

Rafael Nadal's comeback a 'double surprise'

The Montreal Masters draw is out.

Playing in his first comeback tournament after suffering from knee injury for 2 months, Rafael Nadal could face Viktor Troicki or compatriot David Ferrer in the second round.

If everything goes well, Nadal could potentially meet Tommy Robredo in the 3rd round, Juan Martin del Potro in the quarterfinals, and Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco, or Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.

Now here's something we didn't expect.

While everyone is still in doubt over Nadal's fitness and readiness for this tournament, he surprised us by participating in the doubles event with 40 year-old Francis Roig who is Nadal's friend and coach!

They are scheduled to play on Monday against Novak Djokovic and Dusan Vemic.

(Image by Reuters via menstennisforums.com)

Pre-Olympic updates

I've been pretty busy with shifting house for the past weekend and do not have time to really sit down and write something. But nevertheless, here's my updates in one post.

Boost for Murray's Olympic campaign

Novak Djokovic might have beaten soon-to-be world no. 1 Rafael Nadal in the semifinal at Cincinnati, but I'm not devastated watching the match on Sunday morning. After all, Nadal has achieved his ultimate goal, dethroning King Roger from the peak of the ATP rankings. It's best to remain at his top form and focus on Beijing Olympics instead. As you can see in this video, Nadal has arrived in Beijing International Airport to begin his quest for a gold medal.



I didn't think Nole played his best tennis at Cincy Masters. Not even during the semifinal against Nadal. Hence I'm not surprised that Andy Murray won his first Masters Series here by knocking off Nole 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5). If he maintains his consistency on hardcourts, perhaps he Murray might have a huge chance to clinch his first Grand Slam at the U.S. Open right after the Olympics.


Jankovic to become new no. 1 but Safina wins the Rogers Cup

Jelena Jankovic is going to become the new world No. 1 in women’s tennis by the narrowest of margins. The WTA determined that as of the August 11 rankings, Jankovic will have 3,620 points - eight more than Ivanovic, who took the top spot on June 9.

“Since I was a young girl, it has been my dream to become No. 1 in the world,” Jankovic said. “When you get older, at least one day you can say you were No. 1 and no one can take that away from you. You are in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour history books, and it’s a great achievement.”

However, Jankovic lost in the quarterfinal at the Rogers Cup. I would say that the woman player we should focus on now is Dinara Safina, the no.1 player in the making. Safina has been playing remarkable tennis by reaching the final in five of her last six tournaments.

Dinara easily handled unseeded Dominika Cibulkova in a 6-2, 6-1 victory on Sunday to win the Rogers Cup. This the second win in a row for Safina, who beat Flavia Pannetta in the final in Los Angeles last week. With a win earlier this year in Berlin, it was the 22-year-old’s third victory of the year and the eighth of her career. So, Dinara should be the hot favourite to win a medal in the Beijing Olympics.

Look Who's in Beijing? And who's not?

Ana Ivanovic might be losing her no. 1 spot to Jankovic, but looks like it doesn't really affect her much. Perhaps the two top women players in the world are Serbia's best bet to win a medal or two in the Olympic Games.

Too bad we might not be seeing Sharapova the Fashionista in Beijing as well as the U.S. Open because of a torn rotator cuff tendon in her right shoulder.

Sharapova said in a posting on her official website that she probably won’t need surgery and could be ready to play in two to three months.

(Images by Ronald Martinez/Elsa/OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)