There were shocks aplenty at the Rogers Cup, both in Montreal and Toronto. World No.1 Novak Djokovic suffered a stunning straight sets loss at the hands of 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, whilst Roger Federer came through a huge scare to progress to the QFs. In Montreal, Maria Sharapova was another big name casualty as she fell to the Spaniard Carla Suarez-Navarro in 3 sets, but the Williams sisters kept on course for SF showdown with wins over Lucie Safarova and Angie Kerber.
ATP Rogers Cup: Toronto Day 4, 3rd rd
Tsonga vs Djokovic
A day after surviving a massive scrap with Gael Monfils, Novak Djokovic had to contend with his compatriot: Jo W Tsonga
This time however, 2 flamboyant Frenchman was too much for the World No.1 to handle.
For some peculiar reason, Djokovic never got into the match and settled.
Tsonga with his huge forehand and booming first serve, was all over the Serbian’s lacklustre display.
Jo quickly pounced on Novak’s slow start and raced to the opening set 6-2.
In the 2nd set, it was basically more of the same, with Tsonga continuing to pummel Novak all over the court.
It certainly looked then that the writing was on the wall for newly crowned Wimbledon champion.
That certainty became a reality a few games later, with Tsonga putting his rival out of his misery and securing the last game for a stunning 6-2, 6-2 win.
Federer vs Cilic
The 17 times Grand Slam winner Roger Federer is aiming for his 80th career title.
Marin Cilic was the latest player presented before the Swiss maestro in his quest for the landmark achievement.
Mr Federer went about that journey the hard way, as in the first set he just about prevailed 7-5 in the tiebreak.
Cilic however just wouldn’t go away and like a dog to a bone, kept chipping away at the Swiss.
Inevitably another tie-break loomed and that’s where we found ourselves a few games later.
This time though it was the Croat who prevailed, storming to the 2nd set 7-3 in the breaker.
Just 1 more thing, Federer must’ve been kicking himself as he let 6 match points go during the 2nd set.
With those 6 MPs been and gone, the momentum was clearly on Cilic’s side.
But Roger in the end would have the last laugh, just edging Cilic 6-4 in the decider.
Stan Wawrinka
It wasn’t a happy day for Federer’s compatriot and world No4 Stan Wawrinka. That’s because for the 2nd time this season (first at Indian Wells), he lost to the giant South African Kevin Anderson.
Anderson coming through in 2 tight sets: 7-6 (10-8), 7-5
3rd rd results:
2-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat 15-Marin Cilic (Croatia) 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-4
Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat 4-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 3-6 6-3 6-4
6-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat Julien Benneteau (France) 6-3 4-6 6-4
5-David Ferrer (Spain) beat Ivan Dodig (Croatia) 1-6 6-3 6-3
7-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat 17-Tommy Robredo (Spain) 7-5 5-7 6-4
13-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat 1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-2 6-2
8-Andy Murray (Britain) beat 12-Richard Gasquet (France) walkover
Kevin Anderson (South Africa) beat 3-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 7-6(8) 7-5
WTA Rogers Cup: Montreal Day 4, 3rd rd
Suarez-Navarro vs Sharapova
Carla Suarez- Navarro- the mercurial Spaniard, caused arguably the biggest shock of the Rogers Cup in Montreal, with a stunning 3 set upset of French Open champion Maria Sharapova.
Sharapova and Suarez Navarro had previously met only once before- in the 3rd rd of Indian Wells last year, which Maria won 7-5, 6-3.
The high bounce and speed of the court seemed to favour Suarez Navarro, who comfortably cruised to the opening set 6-2.
Her momentum kept pace, as she jumped out to 4-2 lead. But that’s when the legendary fighting spirit of Maria Sharapova finally came alive.
Through sheer grit and determination, Maria won 4 games in a row to snatch the 2md set from Suarez Navarro 6-4.
One could understand if Suarez Navarro then buckled under the pressure and allowed Maria to race away with the 3rd set.
But in fact the exact opposite happened, as she gathered her nerves to storm through the deciding set 6-2.
Venus
Suarez Navarro’s QF opponent: none other than the resurgent and ever-green Venus Williams.
Venus who before this year, had never even won a single match in Canada, let alone in Montreal.
Now she’s in the QF for the 2nd successive tournament of the US Open Series.
It was without doubt though an absolute thriller of a match that she came through against Angelique Kerber. Kerber had beaten Venus the last 3 time they played, all in 2012.
But Venus just about held her nerve and confidence to come through an nailbiter late at night in Montreal.
The 34 year old finally getting to win a tough 3 setter this season: 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Serena
Serena Williams continued her smooth progress in the summer post Wimbledon, with another tough but comfortable win.
Williams who is riding high on a 12 match winning streak at the Rogers Cup (having won in 2011 and 2013- skipped 2012), had a testing encounter against Wimbledon SF Lucie Safarova.
But in the end, Serena’s unbeaten record against the Czech remained intact as she never truly looked like losing or even giving away a set.
Serena eventually getting through in a close straight sets affair: 7-5, 6-4. She next faces good friend Caroline Wozniacki, who easily dispatched rising star Shelby Rogers: 6-1, 6-0
Serena leads Caro 6-1 in their h2h, having won the last 3 in a row.
3rd rdresults:
3-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 6-1 3-6 6-3
8-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beat Heather Watson (Britain) 6-2 6-4
Venus Williams (U.S.) beat 6-Angelique Kerber (Germany) 6-3 3-6 6-4
Coco Vandeweghe (U.S.) beat 7-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 7-6(8) 2-6 7-5
1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat 15-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-4
Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) beat 2-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 6-4 1-6 6-2
14-Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) beat 4-Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-2 4-6 6-2
11-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Shelby Rogers (U.S.) 6-1 6-0
All Things Tennis- from Hamza Shakeel 