I gave Roger Federer a pass for his performance at the start of year, buying into his mono as a reasonable explanation for his poor play.

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick continue to have their struggles while Rafael Nadal looks better than ever in Cincinnati.

Disbelievers, Rafael Nadal won Toronto, and he won it emphatically losing just one single set. The guy has now won 29 straight matches spanning three different surfaces.

FINALLY NO. 1?: Rafael Nadal will become the new No. 1 next Sunday if he wins the title at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati and Roger Federer loses before the semifinals…

What a surprise, Rafael Nadal wins again, beating Nicolas Kiefer 6-3, 6-2 to claim the Toronto Masters.

Make it 27 straight wins and climbing now for Rafael Nadal after last night’s impressive 6-7(12), 6-2, 6-1 performance over Richard Gasquet at the Rogers Cup in Toronto last night.

Obviously I’m joking. Such a scenario would unfortunately never, ever happen. And that’s too bad, though. Because in my mind, based on recent results both Roger Federer and Andy Roddick would both benefit from such a trade.

I guess calling Roger Federer’s Toronto draw “dicey” was being kind after the Swiss got bounced just a short while ago in three sets by Frenchman Gilles Simon.

“I have done well in mixed doubles against the guys and when you take the serve out of the equation, it is a much more even playing field,” Stevenson said.

Top dogs Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal return to action today in Toronto for the first time since their epic at Wimbledon.

I sat courtside, and it was a hot humid day. Fans were sweating from just being in the heat. Neither player seemed to wilt from the elements, but this was not a pleasant low humidity day.

In a final that will never make the cover of a women’s fitness magazine, Canadian qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak upset No. 6 seed Marion Bartoli 7-5, 6-3. Wozniak became the first Canadian since 1988 to win a WTA Tour singles title.

In sports, a measure of greatness is seeing just how a champion responds after getting hit. Well, Roger Federer got hit by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, then five weeks later Nadal knocked him down in the Wimbledon final.

Tursunov entered the interview room in a decidedly different mood. He explained that his level of play did not change much after the rain, but he said he noticed that Blake’s level of play had dropped. Tursunov expressed belief that his form had improved as the tournament had moved forward and that he was not superstitious enough to eat at the same places he did last year when he won the title.

I’ve attended all of the summer ATP events in the U.S. and several of the European ones. I have to say that The Campbell’s Hall of Fame ranks up there as one of my favorites. Due to its surface, location and timing, this tournament will never attract the top players that you see at the other International Series events. What it lacks in star power is more than made up for in ambiance, accessibility and charm. This is the only grass court tournament left in the United States.