Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have been the somewhat unexpected stars of 2017, and there is no reason to think anything will change during the stretch run. With Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and Stan Wawrinka among those injured, Federer and Nadal should get used to being the top two seeds at big tournaments–just as they are for the upcoming Rogers Cup.
Although it may not be easy to predict the respective form of those two all-time greats for their first hard-court event after Wimbledon, it is even more difficult to see who will challenge them at this Masters 1000 stop in Montreal. No. 3 seed Dominic Thiem has been outstanding in 2017, but he has done most of his damage on clay and he lost early in Washington, D.C. to Kevin Anderson. Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev is heading straight for the World Tour Finals if he maintains anything close to his current level of play, but he is making a quick turnaround in Montreal on the heels of a final appearance in D.C. Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Juan Martin Del Potro have been less than their best this summer. David Goffin, Pablo Carreno Busta, Jack Sock, and Nick Kyrgios have been plagued by physical problems.
That being said, no trip to a Masters 1000 title match is ever a cakewalk on paper.
Nadal has an especially tough draw. The Spaniard, who will regain the world No. 1 ranking if he advances to the semifinals, could meet the winner of an opening Del Potro vs. John Isner showdown as early as round three. He may run into the huge serve of Raonic in the quarters and possibly either Zverev or former champion Tsonga (2014) in the semis.
Federer, on the other hand, is sitting pretty at the bottom of the bracket. The reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion will kick off his campaign against a Canadian wild card (Vasek Pospisil or Peter Polansky) and none of the seeds in his section (Nishikori, Sock, and Roberto Bautista Agut) look daunting right now.
In addition to Del Potro vs. Isner, first-round matches to watch include Carreno Busta vs. Karen Khachanov, Kyrgios vs. Viktor Troicki, Feliciano Lopez vs. Hyeon Chung, Sam Querrey vs. Gilles Muller, Benoit Paire vs. Donald Young, and Gael Monfils vs. Steve Johnson.
Quarterfinal picks: Rafael Nadal over Milos Raonic, Alexander Zverev over Karen Khachanov, Tomas Berdych over Dominic Thiem, and Roger Federer over Roberto Bautista Agut
Semifinals: Nadal over Zverev and Federer over Berdych
Final: Federer over Nadal
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Stanley i dont pull others players achievements to pieces, so i get rather irritated and will defend Rafa when people pull apart his achievements, and why shouldnt i , im not some doormat that says yes and no and smiles and nods and likes to get walked all over, im a strong woman with strong opinions ? ….
Alison,
You truly love Rafa, i didn’t know you were a Rafan that’s beautiful, women who love sports and are passionate about it are awesome i.e you are AWESOME.
But you didn’t answer my question, can you answer it without being too biased.
One more thing, i don’t think people are pulling apart his(rafa) achievements they are just expressing there views, if they are let me know i will deal with them(Am not a Rafan but i like him, like R. Federer more).
My phone spoilt today(A friend mistakely broke my screen) am struggling typing and reading comments.
In my bracket i picked A. Zverev to defeat R. Federer in the final, i might have made a mistake, A. Zverev might be exhausted.
Alison if you don’t have an account with- http://www.tennisdrawchallenge.com/
Register now so you can fill in your bracket, am starting a group am calling it “THE SWEET TEAM” plzzzzz don’t join any other group.
If i made any grammatical mistake, i apologize can’t see clearly.
I noticed something all or almost all the women here love R. Nadal you ladies are making jealous.
Alison can you become a R. Federer fan just 4 2 weeks please, pretty plzzzzz.
NNY yes even now you still hear of those 7 defeats in 2011 to Novak, anybody would think Rafa hadnt beaten Novak since, when in fact he did 3 times in 2012, and in 2013 once at the USO, the Rogers cup, and in the RG semi, i need to climb down off my high horse lol ….
If i could predict things, it would be the winning lottery numbers, rather than the out come of a tennis match, ill leave that to those that are obviously better than i can, too many know it alls ….
I don’t think Nadal will make it to the semis. Federer can win this if he really wants to, however, off late he is focused on slams. The interesting thing is that whole bunch of GOAT debates come to life as soon as Roger enters any tournament. Here’s another interesting one about Roger and Laver http://us.blastingnews.com/sports/2017/08/roger-federer-and-rod-laver-in-the-goat-debate-001902479.html
Stanley im not anti Federer, in actual fact i was a fan until the first time i saw Nadal,and i have always had great respect for his achievements, but something turned me onto Nadal, and it wasnt anything to do with me being a female into his looks, and i always get irritated with that implication when it comes to Rafas female fans, as for me being a Federer fan again well many of his fan base have well and truely put me off him for life with the fawning over the top worship, on Facebook and other forums to the point where they cant even have a discussion without steering the conversation to being about him, jeez there are other players too, so me being a fan as Margaret Thatcher once said the ladies not for turning 1 ….
Please comeback Alison, how can you let other fans change your mind.
This site needs a woman who is not supporting R. Nadal, we need you even if it’s just for a while please.
Roger needs you in this tournament, don’t do it for me do it for him.
I don’t see R. Federer playing professional tennis in next 4-5yrs, plz comeback to your first love.
I Think Nadal is going to fight to get the number 1 ranking, so i believe he will have a good week, but just my opinion ….
R. Nadal might become #1 by the end of this tournament but am not confident that he can remain #1 by the end of the year/season.
If you support R. Nadal you should be hopeful, his really close to A. Murray.
I forgot Alison, you told me a few months ago you were a brit, you should support Andy Murray why are breaking everyone’s heart by supporting Nadal.
Which year did you start supporting R. Nadal?
Stanley im doing it for me ….
Rafa has stolen your heart Alison, there is nothing that i can do.
I give up, you are really stubborn i like that, a woman that knows what she wants and it’s faithful is a real woman.
This is hard 4 me 2 say but because of you i wish Rafa the best, i hope he reaches the final but doesn’t win it.
I did well right?
Alison,
You have the patience of a saint!
?
Nativenewyorker,
How are you doing?
And how is your family?
Stanley Murray is my second favorite BTW ….
What about in WTA?
Montreal –
QF:
Nadal over Raonic
Querrey over Zverev
Berdych over Opelka
Federer over Nishikori
SF:
Nadal over Querrey
Federer over Berdych
Final:
Federer over Nadal
Nah, its Berdych over Thiem, and Rafa over Fed/Berdych in the final.
Officially finished believing in Opelka lol. I thought he could really make a run here.
He’s only 19…don’t give up on him yet!
Tennis TV: “When Diego slays Goliath ? ? ”
https://twitter.com/TennisTV/status/894692032274284544/photo/1
According to this draw analysis Nadal will be out against Delpo … http://www.138mph.com/federer-nadal-zverev-and-thiem-are-favorites-at-the-rogers-cup/
Stanley when it comes to favorites on the WTA, i dont actually have one in particular i have quite a few, Kvitova, Azarenka, Radwanska, Kuzzey, Pliskova, Halep, Mugaruza, Ostapenko ,Konta, Watson, Robson (our Brit gals)….
Long list, mine are-
1) Karolina pliskova she’s humble.
2) V. Williams
3) K. Mladenovic( kiki), i don’t like her any more will replace her soon.
Maybe with V. Azarenka, Kristyna pliskova, A. Radwanska or Petra Kvitova.
My #2 and #3 changes from time to time but my #1 is Karolina Pliskova, am her only fan no one else including you.
#1 fan!
Alison,
Since you are a brit you most love football/soccer, which team is your favourite?
I like liverpool & Barcelona.
Alison do you want R. Nadal to meet R. Federer in the final or do you want Roger to be eliminated early?
With Berdych withdrawing, I would say Dimitrov makes quarters from that section then beats Thiem.
And then loses to Fed
And then fed wins it all.
Hurrah!
Stanley i love Coventry City, Liverpool, and York City FC, but i just want Rafa to win the USO, and i dont care whom he beats in the final either ….
Alison 4 real do you love liverpool?
And if Rafa loses montreal and wins the US open will you be happy?
Do you love tennis more than football/soccer?
Who is your favourite soccer player? Don’t tell me you don’t have one.
If R. Nadal doesn’t win any title by the end of the season will your love for him reduce or will you still love him passionately? Please tell me you will be angry & disappointed in him.
Question-Will you support someone else next season if Rafa disappoints?
Answer- Yes i will.
It seems you are busy, you come once in a while i enjoy this conversation.
Talk to you later okay, take care of yourself alright?
Rafa facing a very tough draw while Maestro has a cake walk draw! However, even if Fed was facing tougher opponents he would still be considered favorite on this surface! If in the final, which I expect to happen, Rafa will beat the old man. Fed has played a lot this year already and his old bones will get tired eventually…he will also want to save some energy for USO!
I never had high expectations for Rafa at Wimby, but I said a confident, healthy LaDecima winner would have strong chances to win USO! And I certainly hope he will!
Rafa will beat them all!
Vamos Champ!
The “old man” has been balling throughout this year, he will keep balling by the end of the season.
The sky is not his limit, wait & see.
RITB 3.0 where are you? It’s been a while, you promised remember.