FEDERER AND NADAL SET FOR MONTREAL SHOWDOWN

The tennis community would not have predicted this much renaissance of veterans Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal this year.

Both stars have won most of the masters and Grand Slams this year. With the trend of taking the second half of the year off, both stars are left to clear the rest of the laurels this season.

Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka have closed business for the year due to injuries. Andy Murray is struggling with injury and has not made a strong impression this year – he has withdrawn from the Rogers Cup too.

Nadal is the top seed and he is set to topple Murray as the world no. 1. He has won the Rogers Cup thrice in the past, if he reaches the final – as he has failed to reach the final seven other times. With his current form, he is set to at least reach the semi-finals. Nadal might start against Borna Coric though, who has defeated him two out of three times. With Juan Martin del Potro set to meet John Isner in a major first round clash, the event promises excitement.

German Alexander Zverev,who won the Citi Open, is another man who can rival the two giants. He could meet Nick Kyrgios, who has defeated him twice already, or face Richard Gasquet, whom he is better defeating. There is also Wilfriend Tsonga in this group.

In the third quarter Dominic Thiem is a prime candidate for the last four even though he has never made it past the last eight in Canada. There is No. 7 seed Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych. Berdych’s run at Wimbledon 2017 might play in his favour as well.

Federer historically is not as favoured to lift the Montreal title. It was even surprising that he decided to plat when he has not featured since 2011 and is selecting tournaments he participates in. there would be either Peter Polansky or Vasek Pospisil for a start before Jack Sock and Kei Nishikori.