Rogers Cup: Rafael Nadal a Winner, Serena Williams Retires - Mondays with Bob Greene

Mondays with Bob Greene

STARS

Rafael Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev 6-3 6-0 to win the Rogers Cup in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Bianca Andreescu beat Serena Williams 3-1 retired to win the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

SAYINGS

“I think I played a very solid match, my best match of the week.” –Rafael Nadal, who won his fifth Rogers Cup title and record-extending 35^th Masters 1000.

“I was close, (but) he just played too good.” – Daniil Medvedev, who won only three games in his straight-set loss in the Rogers Cup men’s singles final.

“That’s a little bit frustrating for me because I know that I could play. I just can’t play today.” – Serena Williams, after retiring with back spasms in the Rogers Cup women’s title match.

“What I’ve been through the past two months has not been easy. I kept telling myself ‘never give up.’” – Bianca Andreescu, who won in Toronto when Serena Williams retired from the Rogers Cup final with back spasms.

“I love these matches, night session, I play tennis for the big moments, big shows. But maybe it was a safest decision not to play tonight.” – Gael Monfils, who suffered an ankle injury during his rain-delayed quarterfinal victory over Karen Khachanov and subsequently withdrew from his Montreal semifinal against Rafael Nadal.

“Today, I felt it more, so that’s why I decided to retire.” – Simona Halep, who retired from her quarterfinal Toronto match because of an Achilles tendon injury.

“I think I played pretty well. And she just played amazing, which that’s what she does.” – Naomi Osaka, after losing to Serena Williams.

“I just had to win playing a little bit ugly.” – Karen Khachanov, who weathered the winds and hometown favorite Felix Auger-Aliassime to post a 6-7 (7) 7-5 6-3 third-round win in Montreal.

“When the crowd is for you, there’s obviously some additional pressure. But I try to channel that pressure into something good. I think it pumps me up even more. Having the crowd behind me this week, I’m really thankful for that because without their support I don’t think I would have been in the finals.” – Bianca Andreescu, after becoming the first Canadian woman to reach the modern Rogers Cup final.

“I’ve always wanted to play Serena. It’s always my dream to play against her.” — Marie Bouzkova, who lost to Serena Williams in the semifinals 1-6 6-3 6-3.

SERVING TO SUCCESS

Rafael Nadal brought his “A” game to the Rogers Cup final, and that was enough for his fifth Canadian title. Nadal trounced Daniil Medvedev for his 83^rd career singles title and third of this year. The Spaniard extended his record for Masters 1000 titles to 35, two more than Novak Djokovic. It was a battle – for one game. “For me, it was important in the beginning that he doesn’t take advantage, because finals are always a little bit more difficult for everyone,” Nadal said. “I’ve played a lot of these.” With both on the baseline, the two had rallies of 24 and 32 points, and Medvedev even had a break point. “I think I played a good first game, too,” Nadal said. “He had a break point. I played well; I saved that game. After that, I think I played a solid match.” Medvedev won only three games, all coming in the first set. “My tactic was to not give him that much time, to try to play deep, to not give him easy shots,” Medvedev said. “It was kind of working in the beginning of the match, but then I completely lost the momentum. It was only him controlling the play, controlling the game.” Nadal’s first two titles this year came on clay, at Rome and Roland Garros. And, for the first time in his career, he successfully defending a hard-court title. He previously won the Rogers Cup in 2005, 2008, 2013 and 2018.

SPASMS SINK SERENA

Back spasms forced Serena Williams to retire after just three games, handing the Rogers Cup women’s single title to teenager Bianca Andreescu, the first Canadian to win Canada’s top tournament since Faye Urban in 1969. Andreescu broke Williams and was up 3-1 when the American called for a medical timeout. But a minute later, the umpire announced Williams had retired. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do it today,” a tearful Williams told the crowd. “I tried, but I just couldn’t do it.” Williams, who hasn’t won a tournament since the 2017 Australian Open, said the back spasms started during her semifinal victory over Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova, “and it just got worse.” She said the spasms were so bad it got “to a point where I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t really move.” Williams added shed had undergone hours of treatment before the match, but “I just knew. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to continue.” When the retirement was announced, Andreescu went to Williams and offered words of encouragement and a consolatory hug. The 19-year-old is familiar with injuries. “I know how it is to pull out of tournaments and be injured, it’s not easy,” Andreescu said during the on-court trophy presentation. “This wasn’t the way I expected to win and for you to go off the court. I’ve watched you play so many times, you are truly a champion on and off the court.”

STOP AT THE TOP

It made no difference that Naomi Osaka lost her quarterfinal match to Serena Williams. The Japanese star reclaimed the WTA world number one spot for the second time in her career. Ashleigh Barty ascended to the top of the rankings when she won Roland Garros. But when she was stunned by Sofia Kenin in her opening round Rogers Cup match, Barty lost the number one spot. Karolina Pliskova, another former world number one, missed regaining the top spot when she lost a thrilling three-setter to eventual winner Bianca Andreescu and failed to reach the Rogers Cup semifinals. That meant Osaka would return to the top ranking she first reached on January 28 when she won the Australian Open for her second straight Grand Slam tournament title.

SEMIFINAL WITHDRAWAL

Rafael Nadal reached the Rogers Cup final when Frenchman Gael Monfils withdrew from their semifinal with a bad ankle. Because of rain, Monfils’ quarterfinal match against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut was pushed back to Saturday, meaning the winner would have to play a second match, a semifinal against Nadal. Monfils rolled his ankle while beating Bautista Agut 6-4 3-6 7-6 (2). “I was happy that I fought, no matter what,” Monfils said after the quarterfinal win. “As I say, I felt good this week, tried to give my best. I showed today that I’m still a fighter.” The Frenchman said he felt his ankle early in the second set. “At 6-4 2-1 I had pain moving backwards. My ankle was already painful, I hurt it again,” he said. “It was OK because I was able to run a lot in the next game. But very quickly you could see that physically I as not fit as I was during the beginning of the week. In the third set, I only played on my service games. On return games I didn’t have enough energy to win. I was afraid for my ankle.”

SATISFACTION

It took three tries before Serena Williams had a victory over Naomi Osaka. And when it happened, it wasn’t even close. Williams beat Osaka in the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup 6-3 6-4, but the score didn’t really tell the true story. Williams pounded out 12 aces; Osaka had none. Williams fired 31 winners, Osaka just 5. And the American never faced a break point in overcoming Osaka’s powerful game. The victory avenged Williams’ loss in last year’s controversial US Open final in which the American was docked a point and a game after losing her temper when warned about coaching. “We haven’t played since New York, which was a really good match for her,” Williams said. Osaka also beat Williams in their first meeting, last year in Miami. There was one scary moment in the match for Williams. When she raced to the net after an Osaka drop shot, Williams ran into the net post, hurting her right forearm. “It hurt, but it wasn’t the end of the world,” she said. And while back spasms forced Williams to retire in her final against Canadian Bianca Andreescu, the American came away from the tournament the winningest woman in Roger Cup history. Her semifinal victory over Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova was her 34^th singles win in Canada. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario held the old record of 32.

SET FOR SINGLES

Andy Murray will play singles at the Western & Southern Open for the first time since undergoing right hip surgery that he feared might end his career. He last played singles at the Australian Open in January. The former world number one has fallen to 325^th in the world rankings. He has played doubles recently, joining his brother Jamie at the Citi Open in Washington, DC, where they lost in the quarterfinals. Murray won Grand Slam tournament singles titles at the 2012 US Open and Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. He also won the Olympic singles gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Games.

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have been elected to the ATP Player Council along with Jurgen Melzer of Austria. The three are replacing Robin Haase, Jamie Murray and Sergiy Stakhovsky, who resigned following a seven-hour meeting over several issues, including replacing former player representative Justin Gimelstob. Nadal, Federer and Melzer “will begin their roles with immediate effect and will serve until the end of the existing term, which runs through to Wimbledon 2020,” the ATP said in a statement. The ATP Player Council has been embroiled in friction since ATP president Chris Kermode failed to gain support for another term. The Council president is Novak Djokovic. Federer is a former president, while Nadal quit his role as vice president in 2012. “We decided to be together out there,” Nadal said. “I will not be alone there. He (Federer) will not be alone there. Both of us can (combine to) be a good power, good help for the sport in some way. Hopefully in a better way.”

SKIPPING CINCINNATI

After making history by winning the Rogers Cup, Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu withdrew from this week’s Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. “I’ve never been there, so I’m really disappointed to withdraw from the tournament,” Andreescu said. “I really have to listen to my body right now. This last week has not been easy on it.” Andreescu missed more than two months this summer, including Wimbledon, with shoulder problems.

SUPPORTING KIDS

Country singer Blanco Brown and three former Grand Slam tournament champions will headline the 24^th annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the US Open later this month. Others scheduled to participate include “The Lion King” star JD McCrary, singers Ava Max and Meg Donnelly, as well as defending US Open men’s champion Novak Djokovic, former champion Rafael Nadal and former women’s champion Sloane Stephens.

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Montreal: Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova beat Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Demi Schuurs 7-5 6-0

Toronto: Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos beat Robin Haase and Wesley Koolhof 7-5 7-5

SURFING

Cincinnati: https://www.wsopen.com/

Vancouver: www.vanopen.com

Winston-Salem: https://www.winstonsalemopen.com/

Bronx: https://www.nyjtl.org/nyjtl-bronx-open/

New York: https://www.usopen.org/index.html

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