Tennis Atlantic

Nadal Remains Undefeated on Hardcourts in 2013, Cruises @CoupeRogers Montreal

Rafael Nadal made quick work of local favorite Milos Raonic in the Montreal Masters final, winning 6-2, 6-2 in 68 minutes. The title is his 25th overall Masters title, his 3rd Rogers Cup title and his 4th Masters title this year. The wins keep mounting for Rafa and he only has 3 losses to his name so far this year.

He added wins this week over Jesse Levine, Jerzy Janowicz and Marinko Matosevic in straights, before needing 3 sets to take care of Novak Djokovic, as he dominated both the first set and the final set tiebreak. In the Janowicz match, JJ had a chance to take the opening set but Rafa denied him. As mentioned, he dropped just the single set to Djokovic this week.

Raonic passed a milestone in his career this week and he is now inside the top 10 after reaching his first Masters final at home in front of pumped Canadian fans. This run also came out of nowhere really, as his form going in had been quite poor. He beat Jeremy Chardy in 3 sets, eking out a first round win, then dispatched Mikhail Youzhny and Ernests Gulbis before meeting the Canadian #2 and fellow career climber Vasek Pospisil. The All-Canadian semifinal took 3 sets and a final set tiebreak, but Raonic would be the sturdier player, and relied on his serve and forehand to carry him throughout the week.

In doubles, Alex Peya and Bruno Soares won their first Masters title over Colin Fleming and the usual singles player Andy Murray, who did better in doubles this week than he did in singles. He also added some flavor to the usually undercard doubles event. Nadal also participated in doubles with Pablo Andujar but withdrew during the tournament.