Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

Stefanos Tsitsipas, all of 19 years old with a 168^th world ranking, this time last year is now 27^th and is living the dream.

Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

He has stunned the tennis world with his performance at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. This NextGen Greek sensation is experiencing his breakout week on the big stage at this ATP1000 tournament. After beating 3 top 10 players, Dominic Thiem #7, former world #1 Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev #3, to earn a spot in the semi finals.

Alexamder Zverev (GER)

Ousting Zverev in a 2 1/2hour, 3 set match came about due to his mental fortitude.  “I just did things right” was his response to being asked how he felt he played after his quarter final game. “I played clever and did some things he (Zverev) didn’t expect me to” while “concentrating on each point, being patient and remaining calm”.  In contrast, the defending champion, Alex Zverev felt he “lost a little bit of concentration and … didn’t play that well” and that “the match was absolutely pathetic on all levels”.  Stefanos’ response to this comment was from a quote he believes in, “that a good player can be seen in his bad day”.

Alexamder Zverev (GER)

Kevin Anderson (RSA)

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)

Other stand out matches from this past week’s early round competition include top 4 Canadians. Peter Polansky, achieved his career high ranking #110 by making it to the second round, losing to Novak Djokovic 3-6,4-6.

Milos Raonic (CAN)

Milos Raonic handily dispatched David Goffin, only to lose in second round action, in a tough 3 set battle against Frances Tiafoe, 6-7, 6-4,1-6.

Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)

The youngest Canadian, 17-year-old, Felix Auger-Aliassime, experienced a breakout week on the big stage of world tennis competition. Demonstrating his world class tennis skills and advancing to the second round, Felix eventually lost to Russian, NextGen, Daniil Medvedev, 6-3,4-6,6-7.

Denis Shapovalov, now ranked 23^rd in the world, had a tough day at the office, when playing Robin Haase, of the Netherlands in 3^rd round competition.  Admitting that Haase “played him smart, hitting soft and good defence”, losing with a score of 6-7, 2-6.

Robin Haase (NED)

Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Stan the Man, Wawrinka had an impressive come back performance.  Making it past Nick Kyrgios in a challenging 3 set battle. Once Stan found his rhythm against Nick Kyrgios, Stan was victorious with a score of 1-6,7-6,7-6. After winning his second round in another long 3 set gruelling match, 1-6 7-6, 7-6, the Swiss wild card moved on to clash with world #1, Rafael Nadal. Despite losing against Nadal, Stan demonstrated his Grand Slam champion prowess with what has been noted as playing the shot, of this years Rogers Cup, thus far.

Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Marin Cilic (CRO)

Laurel Neal

Photo credit: Neena Channan