Rogers Cup Hits Montreal

Tennis: Rogers Cup Hits Montreal and Toronto -- Sports Interaction

Big time Tennis returns to Canada as one of the world’s oldest tournaments takes place across Montreal and Toronto next week. Al Dannity breaks down the field at the Rogers Cup.

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My Comment: A rather watch the women.

Murray Outlasts Del Potro In Rogers Cup Scorcher

Scotland's Andy Murray defeated Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro to win the Rogers Cup men's final at Uniprix Tennis Stadium in Jarry Park Sunday. Photograph by: Dave Sidaway, The Gazette

From The Montreal Gazette:

MONTREAL – Andy Murray believes fitness is the key to his success and he proved it by outlasting Juan Martin del Potro, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), 6-1, in the final of the $3-million Rogers Cup Canadian Open tennis championships Sunday.

The temperature at court level at the Uniprix Stadium topped 40 Celsius, but that was no concern for Murray, who prepared for the summer hardcourt season with two weeks of intensive training in steamy Miami.

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More News On The Montreal's Roger's Cup

Murray defeats Del Potro to win Rogers Cup -- CTV
Hot Andy Murray nets Montreal marathon -- Toronto Star
Murray battles to Montreal title -- BBC Sports
Murray turns up the heat -- Globe And Mail
Murray Gains Rogers Cup and a Shot of Confidence -- New York Times
Andy Murray shows resilience to clinch fourth Masters title -- The Guardian
Murray delighted by rankings rise -- BBC Sports
Murray Masters Montreal, US Open momentum builds -- AFP

Montreal Rogers Cup Results For Saturday, August 15, 2009

Top of the tree: Britain's Andy Murray is eyeing top spot after usurping Rafael Nadal's world No2 status Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Andy Murray, Juan Martin dDl Potro Reach Final In Montreal -- L.A. Times

Murray moves to No. 2 in the world. Del Potro ousts Andy Roddick.

Andy Murray defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Juan Martin del Potro ousted Andy Roddick in the semifinals of the Rogers Cup on Saturday at Montreal.

With his win, Murray will vault past Rafael Nadal into a career-high second in the ATP rankings behind No. 1 Roger Federer when the next rankings are released Monday. Nadal, returning from a knee injury, lost in the quarterfinals Friday night.

Murray ousted the seventh-seeded Tsonga, 6-4, 7-6 (8).

Del Potro beat Roddick, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. He also defeated the fifth-seeded American in a third-set tiebreaker in the final in Washington last Sunday.

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More News On The Rogers Cup

Del Potro, Murray to play for Rogers Cup -- CBC
Del Potro flexes muscles in win -- Montreal Gazette
Andy Murray reaches Rogers Cup final and becomes Britain's first ever world No2 -- The Telegraph
Murray sees off Tsonga to be No 2 in the world -- The Independent
Del Potro overpowers Roddick to face Murray in final -- National Post
No. 2 Ranking Is Nice, but Murray Has Other Plans -- New York Times

No. 1 Federer Ousted In Rogers Cup Shocker

Roger Federer congratulates Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France after losing quarterfinal match at the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Aug. 14, 2009. Photograph by: Dave Sidaway, The Gazette

From The Montreal Gazette:

FedEx loses to No. 7 seed Tsonga.

MONTREAL – Roger Federer was right when he said he should have beaten Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in the quarterfinals of the $3-million U.S. Rogers Cup Canadian Open men’s tennis championships.

But he would have been wrong if he said that he deserved to win.

Tsonga, the No. 7 player in the world, advanced to Saturday’s semifinals with a 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (3) victory over Federer on Friday, who suffered a meltdown of epic proportions.

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More News On The Rogers Cup

Federer, Nadal knocked out in Montreal tennis -- AFP
Nadal suffers Montreal setback -- Press Association
Federer and Nadal crash out in Montreal -- CNN
Roger Federer disappointed but will move on from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeat -- The Telegraph

Rogers Cup Marks 30 Years In Montreal

Andy Roddick defeated Spain's Fernando Verdasco (seen here) 7-6 (2), 4-6, 7-6 (5) at the Rogers Cup Men's Tennis on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at Uniprix Tennis Stadium at Jarry Park. Photograph by: Dave Sidaway, Montreal Gazette

From Canoe.ca:

The most prestigious tennis event in Canada celebrates 30 years this week with a roster of the world's top men's players.

Airing on TSN Monday through Friday, Aug. 10-14, and on CBC Television Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15 and 16, the Rogers Cup will feature Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Gael Monfils and Tommy Haas from among the top players in the ATP rankings, vying for US$2.615 million in total prize money on the hard courts at Montreal's Uniprix Stadium.

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More News On The Rogers Cup

Top eight seeds advance -- Montreal Gazette
World's top eight make quarter-finals for first time at Rogers Cup -- Canadian Press
Roger Federer hails consistency of world's best as top eight make up quarter-final draw -- The Telegraph
Federer completes top eight party at Montreal -- Reuters
Carefree Nadal dances his way into quarters at Montreal -- Reuters
Federer, Nadal into Montreal ATP quarters -- AFP
Rafa's knees pass test, carry him to quarters -- Toronto Sun
Murray eases through to last eight in Montreal -- CNN

In Montreal, a Tennis Lounge Above All Others

In between matches at the Rogers Cup, tennis players retreat to the players’ lounge. Graham Hughes for The New York Times, via Associated Press

From The New York Times:

MONTREAL — During a rain delay here earlier this week, the players’ lounge at the Rogers Cup buzzed with activity — some relaxed, some hurried — as the competition moved inside.

There was Rafael Nadal, reclining on a couch with his shoeless feet propped on a table, holding court with his entourage in Spanish. There was Tony Godsick, the senior vice president of IMG Tennis and the agent to Roger Federer, sipping an espresso.

Inside this elite tennis bubble, away from the thousands of fans in the stands beyond its doors, players spoke French, Russian or English, ate doughnuts, read newspapers, argued politics, napped on couches and checked their e-mail. They left their tennis bags strewn about, separating their on-court jobs from their off-court downtime at the entryway.

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Quebecer Gets Standing O In Loss To Federer

Fred Niemyer returns shot during loss to world No. 1 Roger Federer at Rogers Cup in Montreal on Aug. 11, 2009. Photograph by: Allen McInnis, The Gazette

From The Montreal Gazette:

FedEx demolishes underdog Niemeyer.

MONTREAL – The sellout crowd at Uniprix Stadium celebrated the past and the present as the fans gave Fred Niemeyer a standing ovation Tuesday night at the conclusion of his match against No. 1 Roger Federer.

Niemeyer came out on the short end of a 7-6 (3), 6-4 count, but he was able to hold his head high as he made his final appearance at the $3-million Rogers Cup Canadian Open tennis championships.

“I played my last match here against the player I think is the best of all time and I can’t think of a better way to go out unless it would be to win the tournament,” said the 33-year-old veteran from Sherbrooke, who is retiring at the end of this year.

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Rogers Cup Attendance Record

Canada's Frederic Niemeyer keeps his eyes on the ball during his first round match against Igor Kunitsyn of Russia, at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Montreal, Monday, Aug. 10, 2009.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

From CTV:

There are still five days to go in The Rogers Cup, but it's already set a record for attendance.

At least 190,000 tickets have been sold for the week-long tennis tournament in Montreal.

185,252 spectators bought tickets to see the top tennis players in the world square off in 2007.

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With Roger Federer in town, Rogers Cup set to begin

Roger Federer acknowledges applause during his 2008 win over Ivo Karlovic at the Rogers Cup in Montreal. The 15-time Grand Slam champion will compete in the 2009 Rogers Cup in Montreal. Photograph by: John Mahoney, Gazette file photo

From The Montreal Gazette:

MONTREAL – The officials placed Roger Federer’s name on the very first line of the sheet at the Rogers Cup draw ceremony Friday afternoon.

Then they put Rafael Nadal’s name on the last line.

With that, the biggest question about this year’s tournament was answered.

The two best tennis players on the planet are here, the bar at this prestigious event is set to high, and anything that happens the rest of the way is just gravy.

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Federer Confirms Montreal Date

Roger Federer returns shot during 2007 Rogers Cup in Montreal. The 15-time Grand Slam champion is on his way to Montreal to compete in the 2009 Rogers Cup. Photograph by: Phil Carpenter, Gazette file photo

From The CBC:

Roger Federer has confirmed that he will be in Montreal for next week's Rogers Cup tennis tournament, organizers announced Friday.

Federer has been out of action since winning Wimbledon five weeks ago and overtaking Pete Sampras for most all-time Grand Slam men's singles titles. The Swiss star has won 15 majors in his career.

The 28-year-old recently married long-time girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec, and the couple welcomed twins on July 23. The couple released a photo of the twin girls for the first time on Friday.

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Update: Roger Federer will play in Montreal Rogers Cup -- Montreal Gazette