Rafael Nadal won the Canadian Open for a second straight year Sunday, and for a second straight year he then proceeded to withdraw from Cincinnati which he won in 2013.

Nadal, who is just two Grand Slam titles away from Roger Federer, will be the second seed at the US Open which begins in two weeks.

Nadal was replaced in the draw by lucky loser Mikhail Kukushkin leaving the the …

Andy Murray will headline the first full day of play Monday at Cincinnati. The former No. 1 hasn’t played singles since undergoing hip surgery just after the Australian Open.

With a chance of never coming back to singles, Murray announced his return last week, which could also hint of an appearance at the US Open. He’ll open against Richard Gasquet.

“The performances against top singles players in practices have been …

Hopes were high for the in-form Daniil Medvedev today in Montreal against Rafael Nadal during the Canadian Open final. The first-time Masters finalist has been one of the top players on hard courts, and he hadn’t dropped a set or had been troubled on serve entering the final.

But that changed quickly as Nadal broke the big Russian for a 3-1 lead and all but ended any chances for the 23-year-old …

In what a short final today in Toronto between 3-time champion Serena Williams and Canadian teen Bianca Andreescu. Just four games in and down 4-1, Serena walked to her chair, sat down and began crying unexpectedly. Once the medical team came over along with Andreescu, you could here her say her back wasn’t well enough to compete and the match was over.

“It started yesterday in my match and it just …

It was one of the easier Masters semifinal days for Rafael Nadal. The 4-time champion in Canada didn’t have to hit a ball in Montreal today because his opponent, Gael Monfils, withdrew due to a left ankle injury.

Late Friday rain forced the completion of Monfils’s quarterfinal match against Roberto Bautista Agut which was just two points in when Mother Nature intervened.

Today, after a two hour delay due to more rain, …

Serena Williams was the big favorite in her semifinal against unheralded qualifier Marie Bouzkova tonight at the Canadian Open. But the young Czech had other ideas.

Moving Serena around and forcing the 3-time Canadian champ into an array of errors, Bouzkova took the first set 6-1, then was still in a good position serving 3-all in the second. That’s when the wheels came off.

Serena began finding the range and no more …

While Andy Murray returns meaning the Big 4 are back in business at a Masters this upcoming week in Cincinnati, the top line story is will Rafael Nadal even play the event, especially given the weather and backed-up schedule in Canada?

Assuming Nadal goes on to win Canada as projected, then he’ll get the second seeding in New York, and would have less incentive to play in Cincinnati. If he …

Remember at the start of the year when Andy Murray announced that his singles days were done at the very latest after Wimbledon?

Well, as usual in sports, no on really retires. After some positive doubles results on his surgically repaired hip, Murray took a wildcard into the Cincinnati event where he draws the very-beatable Richard Gasquet to play the very-beatable Dominic Thiem.

“That feeling when you accept a wildcard …

Rafael Nadal avenged a shock Monte Carlo loss to Fabio Fognini by beating the Italian Friday night in Montreal 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.

“It was an up-and-down match, but a positive match for me,” Nadal assessed. “I have been playing better and better.”

Fognini jumped on top early with slapping winners off both wings, frustrating Nadal.

In the second, Rafa got back in charge with better depth on his shots. Fognini needed treatment …

Serena Williams had to wait 11 months but she got her revenge on Naomi Osaka for that crazy US Open final loss.

Serena rolled past the Osaka 6-3, 6-4 behind 31 winners to Osaka’s only 5. The 3-time Canadian champ broke Osaka three times while never facing a break point.

“I knew her game a little bit more, so that’s a little easier,” said Serena who was 0-4 in sets against Osaka …

The big showdown is set in Toronto as Friday evening Serena Williams will meet Naomi Osaka for the first time since their memorable US Open final.

Both had to battle in their evening matches at the Canadian Open. Serena advanced past Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 6-4 in her second match after Wimbledon.

Alexandrova led by two breaks in the first at 3-0 and again held an early break lead in the second.

“I …

Rafael Nadal upped his Canadian win streak to seven Thursday night cruising past Guido Pella 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals in Montreal.

“A tough day in terms of wind. But we are used to playing like this. When we play on outdoor courts, that’s part of the game, too. Of course it is better to play without this kind of wind,” Nadal said.

“At the same time, it is beautiful to …

Rafael Nadal opened his summer hard court season with a good – not great – win over Britain’s Dan Evans 7-6(6), 6-4. Nadal was down 6-4 in the opening breaker before taking the last four points to grab the set lead.

Evans hung tough in a rainy second, but Nadal prevailed to his sixth straight win in Canada.

“Daniel is a player that combines an aggressive game with good hands. He’s able …

Wimbledon finalists and tournament favorites Simona Halep and Serena Williams finally took to the court Wednesday at the Canadian Masters in Toronto.

Halep was on early during the day and look in command with a break lead in the third against American Jennifer Brady. But the pesky Brady got back to level, pushed a tiebreaker but the Wimbledon champion was too tough coming out on top 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5).

“It was a …

The projected match of the day lived up to the hype in Toronto as Canadians Bianca Andreescu and Eugenie Bouchard put on a show Tuesday night.

Andreescu had been hampered by a shoulder injury since her stunning title run at Indian Wells and this was just her third event since the big win and early on it looked like the rust was going to prevail as Bouchard took the opener.

But …