Many suitors
For fans choose: Rafa, Roger, Novak or Andy. All these former Cup champion Rogers seem in great shape, and they all have a reasonable chance to regain their crown this year.
After several years where one or two players were heavily favored to sweep the board, the 2010 edition of this tournament, the overall prize money of 2.43 million USD, will stage seven or eight players with a legitimate chance of winning.
The world and the favorite, Spaniard Rafael Nadal won the tournament in 2005 and 2008. Switzerland’s Roger Federer, seeded third, had prevailed in 2004 and 2006. He is always at the top of his art, if not the top of the ATP rankings. Between these two players is the deuixème seeded champion of 2007, Serb Novak Djokovic.
Defending champion Andy Murray is back as number four. There are also Sweden’s Robin Soderling (No. 5), Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko (No. 6), Czech Tomas Berdych (No. 7) and American Andy Roddick (No. 8). In other words, several players can aspire to the highest honors in Toronto.
“It’s great for tennis,” said Djokovic. There are more guys who can win big tournaments. It makes things more interesting for the crowd and for us. The challenge is greater. ”
Djokovic beat Federer in the rankings, but it still identifies the Swiss star and Nadal as the players to beat.
“For sure Rafa and Roger are the favorites to win any tournament,” said the Serb. We respect that. But there are players who rise like Berdych and Soderling, and Roddick is still obviously in the portrait. It a lot of guys who are challenging the most dominant players. ”
For the organizers, the dream final would be a duel between Nadal and Federer, who are at opposite corners of the table. They competed only once in 2010, when Nadal beat the Swiss in the final in Madrid in May
Four Canadians were awarded passes: Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Pierre-Ludovic Duclos of Sainte-Foy and Peter Polansky and Milos Raonic, both of Thornhill, Ontario.
The eight top seeds have received a free pass to the second round. The first round games starting Monday.