National Bank Open Presented by Rogers, Montreal, Canada - ATP 1000 Masters

[El Dude]

Here's a bit on Jodar's rise:

Rafael Jodar: ATP record set to be broken by teenage tennis sensation at Canada Open

The teenage Spaniard's rise to the top of tennis is set to be faster than the sport's modern greats

www.bbc.com

It is frankly astonishing. I'm not so sure, anymore, than Fonzie will be the better player. But I think both are the best bets to rise above the pack and really challenge Sincaraz. What impresses me most about Jodar is that he seems to have a champion's mentality. He seems focused on improving, and doesn't seem to get overly flustered when he loses. He also doesn't really seem to let up. Even his approach over the last couple years seems to be working for him: laying low playing college and then challengers last year until he honed his game, while Fonzie was floating on Cloud 9 hype.

 

[kskate2]

how about 3 yanks in the semi's and a Rafa. Really happy for Tien and Nakatomi making their first master SF.

 

[El Dude]

And here's a fun thing to consider: Sinner was born in 2001, Carlos in 2003, Jodar and Fonzie in 2006.

Roger was born in 1981, Rafa in 1986, Novak and Andy in 1987.

A very similar spread of years, with Sinner and Jodar separated by 5 years and a month, compared to Roger and Novak at 5 years and 9 months.

A new Big Four? Is it too soon?

 

[kskate2]

^ Maybe just a tad too soon.

 

[El Dude]

^ Maybe just a tad too soon.

I know. Not for Sincaraz, but for Joseca/Fondar. But...the idea is intriguing.

 

[El Dude]

Order of who I hope wins:
1. Jodar, 2. Tien, 3. Nakashima, 4. Shelton

Order of who I think is most likely to win:
1. Shelton, 2. Jodar, 3. Tien, 4. Nakashima

In some ways I sort of want Tien or Nakashima to win. Tien is a nice kid and I hope he wins some big titles, and Nakashima is a guy who has somewhat underperformed, and I know Andy Roddick likes. But I'm kind of feeling "Jodar fever" - not as a new personal favorite, but because the tennis nerd in me is enjoying his historic rise. If he wins this he becomes a serious darkhorse for the US Open.

Shelton just annoys me. I've tried to like him, but just don't feel it.

 

[mrzz]

Order of who I hope wins:
1. Jodar, 2. Tien, 3. Nakashima, 4. Shelton

Order of who I think is most likely to win:
1. Shelton, 2. Jodar, 3. Tien, 4. Nakashima

In some ways I sort of want Tien or Nakashima to win. Tien is a nice kid and I hope he wins some big titles, and Nakashima is a guy who has somewhat underperformed, and I know Andy Roddick likes. But I'm kind of feeling "Jodar fever" - not as a new personal favorite, but because the tennis nerd in me is enjoying his historic rise. If he wins this he becomes a serious darkhorse for the US Open.

Shelton just annoys me. I've tried to like him, but just don't feel it.

So you just invented the educated jinx.

 

[El Dude]

So you just invented the educated jinx.

Well, at least 'MURICA has the final. We've been screwing the rest of the world for the last 80 years, might as well continue.

On a serious note, is Brandon Nakashima the "late bloomer" breakout of the year? He's now #22 in the Race rankings...who knows, maybe he can sniff the top 10 at some point. Or he could just be "Vacheroting" it. But even Vacherot seems like a legit top 20 guy now.

 

[Murat B.]

Nakashima had all the answers tonight. He was solid.

I have seen a picture of Shelton serving. I don't know where. The picture screamed hip surgery .

 

[mrzz]

Nakashima had all the answers tonight. He was solid.

I have seen a picture of Shelton serving. I don't know where. The picture screamed hip surgery .

When I see him serving I always think of Coil-man from The Impossibles.

 

[Murat B.]

When I see him serving I always think of Coil-man from The Impossibles.

This is it. And it is not sustainable.

 

[Fiero425]

I guess I haven't been paying enuf attn.! I see they've already started Cincy Masters before Canada is done! I wondered about a final decided that could be waiting around until Sunday to play! I've seen Norris advance, now the ladies are on TCC! I heard players weren't happy w/ taking these events past 7 days!

 

[kskate2]

Well, at least 'MURICA has the final. We've been screwing the rest of the world for the last 80 years, might as well continue.

On a serious note, is Brandon Nakashima the "late bloomer" breakout of the year? He's now #22 in the Race rankings...who knows, maybe he can sniff the top 10 at some point. Or he could just be "Vacheroting" it. But even Vacherot seems like a legit top 20 guy now.

Nakatomi has been around for awhile. He won the NextGen finals and has showed some promise taking a few big scalps. What I noticed about him since winning that title is he seemed more mentally fragile in alot matches. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. He has Wayne Ferreira now and the partnership seems to be yielding immediate dividends. Too bad Big Foe let Wayne go. He's been on a coaching merry go round and it's not all positive.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Order of who I hope wins:
1. Jodar, 2. Tien, 3. Nakashima, 4. Shelton

Order of who I think is most likely to win:
1. Shelton, 2. Jodar, 3. Tien, 4. Nakashima

In some ways I sort of want Tien or Nakashima to win. Tien is a nice kid and I hope he wins some big titles, and Nakashima is a guy who has somewhat underperformed, and I know Andy Roddick likes. But I'm kind of feeling "Jodar fever" - not as a new personal favorite, but because the tennis nerd in me is enjoying his historic rise. If he wins this he becomes a serious darkhorse for the US Open.

Shelton just annoys me. I've tried to like him, but just don't feel it.

Me too I aint feelin Ben either.. The positive but sad is this is the first match up in 23 years two Americans making the finals in a Master series 1k tournament. (Roddick vs Marty Fish) ... that is a damn shame.

 

[mrzz]

Brazilian duo Luz/Mattos just won their first Masters 1000 (not a first by a Brazilian in doubles, but the first for an all braz. team). Very, very happy for them. Two hard workers, Mattos has been living inside the top 50 for a while already, Luz made his break more recently, after years and years fighting in the Challenger tour. He was a decent singles player (by the way, former boy's major winner in doubles), but he struggles a bit to be fit enough for the singles tour.

They beat a lot of seeds on their way, closing it up against the very strong team of Arevalo/Pavic. Nervous match on their side, but they got it done. They are an interesting combination of power (Luz) and finesse (Mattos), while neither are exactly your typical doubles player (but they both have commited to doubles for a long time already). Now they are #8 in the race to Lond... Tur... Mil... wherever.

 

[Murat B.]

Nakatomi may lose this match but what I have seen from him this week, he seemed a bit more mature and adult like. Whatever he is doing is working.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Ben Shelton successfully defends his Canadian Masters title, winning 6-3, 7-6(4). It is Shelton's 4th title of the season.

 

[Fiero425]

Ben Shelton successfully defends his Canadian Masters title, winning 6-3, 7-6(4). It is Shelton's 4th title of the season.

That's amazing as I thought Ben little more than a minor upgrade of his dad, but he's been quite impressive of late! He's more than a big serve & FH! Defending this title is huge regardless of the elites bypassing it again! I pride myself in knowing what's what in tennis! I had no clue the final was moved up to Thurs.to start Cincy early! I heard there was some dissent in adding a week to some of the Masters events, but this is the 1st instance that shocked the crap out of me! Back in the day, The Summer Grand Prix had Monday finals showing on PBS here in the States! The Tennis Boom in the mid 70's was HUGE after the BoBBy Riggs/BJK '73 extravaganza, then came the winning ways of Evert & Connors in '74 which ignited fandom! Everyone wanted to play! Tennis clothes became street wear! I can tell you, I had more tennis clothes than regular fare! I played or taught every day of the week! I can still visualize watching all 3 TV Networks w/ tennis matches playing; sometimes the same players (tape & live)! Those were the days! END RANT!

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

That's amazing as I thought Ben little more than a minor upgrade of his dad, but he's been quite impressive of late! He's more than a big serve & FH! Defending this title is huge regardless of the elites bypassing it again! I pride myself in knowing what's what in tennis! I had no clue the final was moved up to Thurs.to start Cincy early! I heard there was some dissent in adding a week to some of the Masters events, but this is the 1st instance that shocked the crap out of me! Back in the day, The Summer Grand Prix had Monday finals showing on PBS here in the States! The Tennis Boom in the mid 70's was HUGE after the BoBBy Riggs/BJK '73 extravaganza, then came the winning ways of Evert & Connors in '74 which ignited fandom! Everyone wanted to play! Tennis clothes became street wear! I can tell you, I had more tennis clothes than regular fare! I played or taught every day of the week! I can still visualize watching all 3 TV Networks w/ tennis matches playing; sometimes the same players (tape & live)! Those were the days! END RANT!

I can't be the only one that thinks the tinkering of the schedule is going to drive fans away from tennis. From changing the US Open men's final from the traditional 4 pm ET to 2 pm ET (which now interferes with the 1 pm ET window of NFL opening week), to changing the Wimbledon final traditional start time from 1400 BST/9 am ET to 1600 BST/11 am ET, and now making almost every Masters event 2 weeks, no one really asked for these changes, as evidenced by the ratings drop and increase of top player withdrawals. Bring back the traditional start times for the Wimbledon and US Open finals, and make Rome and Cincinnati the only 2-week Masters tournaments (since they are lead-ups to slams). Everything else can be one-weekers. Events like Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Canada especially don't need to be 2 weeks long, as that's overkill.