Tennis Updates
@tennisupdates
I post updates on ATP/WTA events as well as reacting to news around the great sport of tennis.
ATP 1000 Montreal SF: Rafael Jodar vs Brandon Nakashima Prediction: Jodar in 3 If Jodar wins he becomes a Top 10 player which is absolutely unbelievable
Elena Rybakina with her most important win since April 4-6, 7⁷-6⁵, 6-4 vs Naomi Osaka to move into the Toronto Semis Sometimes all an elite player needs to turn around form is to fall behind and feel they have nothing to lose. She trailed this match 4-6, 2-4 initally and then played better
After Osaka missed a shot on game point with most of the court open, its the break for Rybakina at *4-3 Crazy turn of events the last 2 games
That is the hold of the match by Rybakina Saves 4 break points, one with a forehand that for the last few months including the opening set and a half she was not making, you can kinda see her starting to gain confidence in real time, it may not be enough but its good signs regardless
When she needed to most, Elena Rybakina started hitting some better forehands, including the return in that 5-5 point and this battle of multi Grand Slam champions is going the distance 4-6, 7⁷-6⁵ after Rybakina trailed 4-6, 2-4
Rybakina with life now, she breaks and this time holds for the 5-4 lead in the 2nd set Osaka had a 6-4, 4-2 lead and looked to be in control but things have turned here.
Learner Tien routinely moves past Daniel Merida 6-3, 6-2 to move into his first career Masters 1000 Semifinal There will be 3 Americans in the Semifinals.
Feels like that was Rybakina's chance to get back into the match, she got the break back but instantly gets broken the next game Osaka leads 6-4, *3-2
Osaka 6-4 vs Rybakina It really feels like Rybakina left her forehand in Stuttgart, it has struggled since. Osaka saved 3 early break points right after getting the early break which was the difference.
That was not only Shelton's best returning performance of this North American swing but maybe his best ever to break Mensik 4 times out of 8 service games Mensik won just 5/20 2nd serve points
Ben Shelton with a flawless performance to win 6-3, 6-1 against Jakub Mensik He loves Canada that's for sure, and the crowd enjoyed that performance too, breaking Mensik 4 times and hit just 3 unforced errors the entire match per Jason Goodall. Not sure I've ever seen him play that well.
This is not even close right now, Shelton leads Mensik 6-3, 3-0 Playing some of the best tennis he has this year and is rushing Mensik's forehand even on these slower Montreal courts
Ben Shelton made just 1 unforced error in the opening set, hit 8 winners All over Mensik so far, 6-3 with 2 breaks. I mentioned how problematic Mensik's 2nd serve is and he won only 18% of his 2nd serve points
News: Bencic will not play the Quarterfinals tonight with a hip injury I mentioned in the preview hopefully Bencic's leg didn't feel worse the next day but I assume that is the reason for this. Had it bandaged up vs Eala the other night. Not sure if the hip is a separate injury
Rafael Jodar defeats Arthur Fils for the 2nd consecutive week 7⁷-6⁵, 6-3 A first Masters 1000 Semifinal, as he is now 6th in the Race to Turin, hard to believe how fast this guy has had success, it is not normal what he is doing.
Jodar by a set and a break If he can close this out he will be 6th in the Race to Turin amazingly enough.
Jodar takes the opening set tiebreak 7-5 vs Fils He had chances to break for a 5-1 lead in the set, is able to scrape by and take the tiebreak.
Players are returning to court in Montreal There is some possible rain in about 30 minutes but if we can avoid that its a good forecast rest of the evening.
WTA 1000 Cincy Draw: Men's draw next, unfortunately is not being streamed
Raining in Montreal but this is not expected to stay around long Jodar 5-4 up vs Fils on serve in the 2nd of 2 day matches carried over from last night
After years of dropping close matches when on the brink of a big result, its a breakthrough in Canada for Brandon Nakashima He wins 6-2, 6-3 vs Luciano Darderi to make his first ever Masters 1000 Semifinal. He was the clear favorite on hardcourt vs Darderi and he delivered.
Tuesday: Nakashima/Darderi and Jodar/Fils are this afternoon as they're carried over from yesterday, no huge deal with the format but no more insurance days left if more rain comes. Shelton/Mensik at 6pm with Tien/Merida after and in Toronto, Gauff/Bencic at 7pm with Rybakina/Osaka after
WTA 1000 Toronto QF: Naomi Osaka vs Elena Rybakina Prediction: Osaka in 2 Osaka is playing better tennis, if Rybakina does not raise her level this may not even be a match. If she does raise her level, this will be a fun one. I can not believe they have never played.
WTA 1000 Toronto QF: Coco Gauff vs Belinda Bencic Prediction: Gauff in 3 They've had some battles previously, I have no reason to think this will be any different
ATP 1000 Montreal QF: Ben Shelton vs Jakub Mensik Prediction: Shelton in 3 A battle of the only 2 players remaining that have won a Masters 1000 is going to be fun tomorrow night.
ATP 1000 Montreal QF: Learner Tien vs Daniel Merida Prediction: Tien in 3 What an opportunity this is to make a first Masters SF for both
Now, yes, the forecast changed, earlier in the night it appeared there was a window at 9:30pm or so, Tennis Channel said that was the hope from the organizers was to play after the 9:30pm window opened This was the forecast a few hours back
Elina Svitolina turns it around 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 vs Ekaterina Alexandrova Her defense those last 2 sets were absolutely unbelievable after Alexandrova played a great opening set, Elina continued to frustrate Ekaterina more as the match went on.