“That’s my next objective”.
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In men’s doubles action, Vancouver’s Philip Bester and Adil Shamasdin of Toronto got past world No. 1 singles player Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia 7-5, 4-6, 10-2. The crowd went quiet then, and the only sound was of Monfils, who jumped and pumped his fist and said “Yes!” I don’t know how I got out of that tiebreak.
“It was a really good match, ” Wawrinka told atpworldtour.com. Any energy, I take it. “Even if it’s for me or not for me, I take it”. Still, no Canadian male has won the Rogers Cup – previously the Canadian Open – since Robert Bedard did in 1958. “I was calm, serving really good, and mixing it up a lot”.
Unfortunately, for the home-court favourite, he had trouble being consistent with his best weapon. “I think I was reading the game well, good in defence, find a way how to come back and attack”.
Ideally Raonic and Djokovic would have occupied opposite ends of the draw, with each passing day leading to a Sunday final between the two biggest attractions. The Frenchman continued to be patient, drawing Raonic into rallies and then using his superior returns to put him away.
Entering the Aviva Centre, fans are met with the likeness of Raonic and Djokovic plastered across enormous banners on the tennis facility’s exterior. Off the court, as well, it’s been phenomenal. “It’s a great honor to play in front of that kind of appreciation and respect from the Canadians”.
The capacity evening crowd did their best to lift powerful Canadian Raonic, but Monfils, whose attitude has often been questioned, did not buckle against the fourth seed.
“I changed my game plan a little bit”, said Monfils, who had lost to Raonic in two other quarter-finals this season.
Gael Monfils is on a winning streak – but now he must overcome Novak Djokovic.
Jul 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Milos Raonic of Canada plays a shot against Jared Donaldson of US on day four of the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Aviva Centre.
The world no. 7 Raonic sweeps the 19-year old Donaldson 6-2, 6-3 to win the first ever meeting of these two next generation talents. Monfils has won 18 of his last 21 sets overall and is no longer making the silly errors that have cost him matches over the years.
Grigor Dimitrov’s final eight opponent will Japan’s world no. 6 Kei Nishikori.
Rogers Cup second seed Stan Wawrinka defeats the highest ranked American left in the tournament, as he goes past Jack Sock to reach the quarterfinal round.
Nishikori won in Memphis in February for his 11th ATP Tour title. However, Anderson has beaten Wawrinka four consecutive times before the Swiss player’s Grand Slam victory.
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They advanced to the semifinal Friday with a 6-3, 7-6 win over the Czech duo of Tomas Berdych (who earlier in the evening lost to Djokovic in their quarterfinal) and Radek Stepanek.
