Rogers Cup Preview

The ATP 1000 Roger’s Cup starts tomorrow. The tennis review looks at he draw and predicts the winner.

Top quarter: Novak Djokovic heads the top quarter as the top seed. He is drawn to face either Radek Stepanek or Gael Monfils in the second round. Neither of these should prove anything more than entertaining obstacles.

Djokovic is then projected to play 13th seed Tsonga. The Serbian dealt handily with Tsonga at this year’s French Open and at Wimbledon and will not be troubled by the injury-hit Frenchman.

Djokovic’s quarter-final would be against Andy Murray. Their last meeting on hardcourts was in Miami. Djokovic won in straights, and if Murray survives Kyrgios, expect the same. Murray might not survive Gasquet, though. The Frenchman was a semi-finalist at last week’s Citi Open and should be pretty pumped after letting a 3-0 third set lead slip against Pospisil. If Djokovic faces Gasquet, expect a comfortable win for the world No.1.

Second quarter: Stan Wawrinka heads this quarter, and could face good friend Benoit Paire in the second round. This is  a relatively comfortable quarter for Wawrinka, with Fognini, his projected last sixteen opponent not expected to cause any damage. Fognini is most likely to get knocked out by Kevin Anderson, for whom Wawrinka should have too much game.

Grigor Dimitrov is the seventh seed and should meet Wawrinka in the last eight. That match will be a treat, and Wawrinka will win it. The Swiss is due another big tournament after being pretty quiet since his Monte Carlo win.

Third quarter: Milos Raonic will be tested by Jack Sock most likely in the second round, and then pushed to the brink by Gulbis, but Raonic is in great form and should get through it in three tight sets.

Berdych is the top seed in this quarter, but he has had a run of early losses his past few tournaments and will be rusty. Expect Raonic to take Berdych out, and some amusing tweets of course.

Bottom quarter: Roger Federer headlines this quarter and he will likely have to get past Cilic in the last sixteen, which he should do, but not without a sweat.

David Ferrer will be no problem for him in the last eight though. Ferrer though is most likely going to be upset by John Isner, whom Federer should take care of in straight sets.

Projected semi-final One: Djokovic Vs Wawrinka. Djokovic is too confident and the Wimbledon Win will give his career a second wind after all those slam final losses. He has a point to prove versus Wawrinka, too, after the loss in Melbourne. Djokovic will be too determined, too consistent, and at times, too brilliant.

Projected semi-final Two: Raonic Vs Federer. A replay of the semi-final at Wimbledon. Federer won in straights. This time it will go to three, but with the same winner.

Final: Djokovic Vs Federer. A three setter, probably a classic with all the twists and turns that come with these two. Djokovic to win.

Commentary by Christian Deverille

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