Federer, Nadal, Djokovic Lead Masters Canada Field This Week
Posted on July 21, 2008
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada -- World No. 3 Novak Djokovic will attempt to become the first repeat winner at the Rogers Masters in more than a decade, but faces a strong 56-player field led by
two-time champion Roger Federer and 2005 titlist Rafael Nadal.
Federer is undefeated at Toronto's Rexall Centre, and won 12 straight matches en route to the 2004 (d. Roddick) and 2006 (d. Gasquet) titles. Djokovic and Nadal won their ATP Masters Series Canada titles in Montreal (d. Federer and Agassi respectively).
In 2006, Federer became the first player since Andre Agassi successfully defended his Canadian
title in 1995 to claim the title for a second time. The Swiss is trying to become only the third player in the Open Era to capture three Canada titles, joining six-time winner Ivan Lendl (1980-81, '83, '87-89) and Agassi (1992, '94-95).
The World No. 1 comes to Toronto with a 43-9 season match record and two ATP titles (Estoril, Halle). He is looking to capture his first title on hard courts and first ATP Masters Series title of 2008.
Nadal makes his first appearance since defeating Federer in an epic Wimbledon final, and enters with a 24-match and four-title winning streak. He leads the circuit with a 56-7 match record and six titles this season, including two ATP Masters Series shields. The Spaniard's last loss came in his second round opener against Juan Carlos Ferrero at Rome.
Djokovic, who upset the Top 3 players of the South African Airways ATP Rankings last year to win the Montreal title (Roddick, Nadal, Federer), is chasing his third ATP Masters Series title of the season (Indian Wells, Hamburg). The Serb plays in his first tournament since making a second round
exit at Wimbledon (l. to Safin).
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have won 11 of the last 14 ATP Masters Series titles in 2007-08, with
Nadal winning five times, Djokovic four and Federer twice. One of the threesome has reached the final in each of the last 14 Masters Series tournaments.
In addition to the top trio, former winners in the field include Andy Roddick (2003), Guillermo
Canas (2002) and Marat Safin (2000). Thomas Johansson, who won the title in 1999, is playing in
the last round of qualifying on Monday.
-- ATP
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