- Roland Garros Qualifying Draws and Schedule for Tuesday, May 17th
- Roland Garros Qualifying Draws and Schedule for Monday, May 16th
- Djokovic builds momentum for French Open 2022 with sixth Rome Masters Tennis title
- Novak’s Back: Djokovic Beats Tsitsipas for Sixth Rome Crown
- Rome ATP and WTA Draws and Schedule for Sunday, May 15th
- Stefanos Tsitsipas Defeats Alexander Zverev to Reach Maiden Rome Final
- Iga Swiatek Scores 26th Straight Win, Sets up Rome Semifinal vs. Sabalenka
- Rome ATP and WTA Draws and Schedule for Saturday, May 14th
- Foot injury returns for Rafa Nadal in three-set loss to Shapovalov at Rome Masters tennis
- Rome ATP and WTA Draws and Schedule for Friday, May 13th
- Naomi Osaka Splits from IMG To Form New Management Firm
- Ricky’s picks for the Rome Tennis third round: Djokovic vs. Wawrinka and Nadal vs. Shapovalov
- Rome ATP and WTA Draws and Schedule for Thursday, May 12th
- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Leads List of Roland Garros Wild Card Recipients
- Ricky’s tennis picks for Wednesday at the Rome Masters, including Nadal vs. Isner
ROGER FEDERER, ALEXANDER ZVEREV HEAD TO CINCINNATI TENNIS • RAFA NADAL HEADLINES
- Updated: August 13, 2017

Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Denis Shapovalov of Canada during the third round of the Rogers Cup ATP men’s tennis tournament in Montreal, Canada, 10 August 2017. EPA/ANDRE PICHETTE
By Ricky Dimon
Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev are on a collision course for the Western & Southern Open semis after squaring off in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday afternoon.
The two finalists in Montreal are now making their way to Cincinnati for a second straight Masters 1000 event and they are in the same half of the bracket. Among those standing in their way of a rematch are Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, Juan Martin Del Potro, and John Isner.
Federer is looking at a relatively tough path through the draw–certainly compared to what was on his menu at Wimbledon and in Montreal. The former world No. 1 could kick off his campaign against Karen Khachanov before possible meetings with Jack Sock and Del Potro. Zverev could run into a pair of huge servers–Isner and Raonic–prior to the semifinals.
“I’m just really happy for him, to see that he’s taking everything not just to the next level, but the two next levels–winning two Masters 1000s,” Federer said of the man who beat him 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday. “It’s extremely difficult to win. He’s won two this year. It’s a wonderful achievement for him. I wish him the best for the coming months and hope he can finish the season very strong because there [are] opportunities now.”
Zverev and others have major opportunities now with all kings top players injured. Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka are out for the season and world No. 1 Andy Murray is currently on the sidelines. So, too, are Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori. Murray’s absence means Nadal is the top seed in Cincinnati, where he is looking to get back on track following a third-round loss to Denis Shapovalov in Montreal. Nadal awaits either Richard Gasquet or John-Patrick Smith before a likely rematch with Gilles Muller, who upset the 15-time major champion in a five-set stunner at Wimbledon. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nick Kyrgios are also part of a tough top quarter in Cincinnati.
Nishikori was a late withdrawal this week, leaving Dominic Thiem as the only top-four seed in the second section of the bracket. He could be challenged by Montreal semifinalist Robin Haase and Los Cabos winner Sam Querrey.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.