Nicolas Kiefer challenges second-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the final of the Rogers Cup on Sunday in Toronto. Kiefer is bidding for his first ATP Masters Series shield in 74 tournaments, while Nadal is a former champion in Canada (2005 d. Agassi) and has captured 11 AMS shields in total. While Nadal has captured six titles this season alone (Barcelona, AMS Monte-Carlo, AMS Hamburg, Roland Garros, Queens, Wimbledon), Kiefer is searching for his first title since 2000 Hong Kong; this is his 140th tournament played since the title. The German is also attempting to break a streak of nine consecutive ATP finals lost.
Battle for No. 1 – World No. 1 Roger Federer’s hopes of retaining the top ranking in coming weeks took a major hit with his departure against Gilles Simon in the second round this week. Should World No. 2 Rafael Nadal now win the Rogers Cup final today, the Spaniard would have the chance next week at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati to dethrone Federer, who has held top spot in the South African Airways Rankings for 234 consecutive weeks (since February 2004). Nadal is 770 points behind Federer this week but could cut that lead to a mere 300 points should he win the Rogers Cup, which he did in Montreal in 2005.
Winning Streak – Nadal is on an unbeaten run of 28 matches and is bidding to win his fifth straight ATP title. The Spaniard has not lost a match since the ATP Masters Series Rome second round on May 7 (l. to Ferrero) and has since won titles at Masters Series Hamburg (d. Federer), Roland Garros (d. Federer), Queen’s Club (d. Djokovic) and Wimbledon (d. Federer).
Titles Over 30 – The 31-year-old Kiefer is trying to become only the second player over 30 to win an ATP title this year. Fabrice Santoro was 35 when he won Newport on July 13.
Unseeded Finalists – Kiefer is the unseeded player in the final. The last unseeded player to reach the final was Richard Gasquet in 2006; he finished runner-up to Roger Federer. Argentine Guillermo Canas was the last unseeded player to capture the title, defeating Andy Roddick in the 2002 final.
German in the Final - Kiefer is trying to become the 54th different AMS winner (since 1990) and the first German to capture an AMS shield since Tommy Haas won Stuttgart in 2001. Boris Becker (5), Michael Stich (2) and Haas are the only Germans to win an AMS shield. The last German player to reach the Canada final was Boris Becker, who defeated Stefan Edberg to capture the title in 1986.
Top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan will face second seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic in the doubles final at the Rogers Cup. It is the third time this season that the two teams have contested an ATP final – the Bryan brothers triumphed at ATP Masters Series Rome, while Nestor/Zimonjic avenged the loss at Masters Series Hamburg. (ATP Digital Services)
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