ATP’s Top Guns Return to U.S. Open Series Action in Toronto.

It’s always been funny to me that the Olympus U.S. Open Series bills itself as the “greatest roadtrip in sports” but that for the past few years the top guys choose to make their pit stops a straight line between Canada and Cincinnati before heading their tour bus straight for Queens. Both Canada and Cincinnati are mandatory events for the top players, and there’s nothing wrong with saving your body and mind before the grinding two weeks of New York, but as Andy Murray proved the other week in L.A., jumping back in “cold” so to speak and expecting everything to fire up at will is a bit dangerous these days. We’ll find out soon enough who’s hot and cold as the top men converge in Toronto this week for the Rogers Cup.

Which is why I wouldn’t be surprised if Roger Federer finds himself upended prior to the final weekend. He could face Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals in a matchup, that last year everyone would have automatically penciled in Federer’s name to the semis, but this year is a 50/50 toss up. The other question is can Berdych, who felt being a top seed in D.C. should have earned him a better schedule, handle being viewed as a contender now. The winner in Federer’s side of the draw will meet the winner of what I like to call the “TBD” section which has a potential Nikolay Davydenko versus Novak Djokovic quarterfinal. That’s if both men make it that far. Many are still trying to wrap their heads around how Djokovic managed to be No.2 in the world now. A good showing in Toronto would help clear up that confusion.

The bottom left side of the draw has defending champion Andy Murray, who I think was well served in getting in some early matches in L.A., possibly meeting everyone’s favorite fist-shaker Robin Soderling. Soderling, who only has 10 ranking points to defend between now and the U.S. Open, could break into the top four by U.S. Open time so Murray would be wise to stop the hard-hitting Swede in his tracks before that happens. David Nalbandian, who’s surprised and delighted fans with his finals run in D.C., is also in this section, but if he has anything left to make another run for a second week will be something to watch.

Finally, the new king of tennis, Rafael Nadal returns to perhaps his one and only hardcourt tournament before the U.S. Open. He couldn’t have handpicked a better early round draw for him to get some much needed matches in (despite the rather perplexed face he gave off during the draw ceremony). Although Nadal could face Sam Querrey, whose title run in L.A. makes him vaguely relevant on the tour now (more about that later) or the now struggling but always determined Andy Roddick, I can’t see either man making a dent in Nadal’s game.

Finally a brief word about last year’s finalist Juan Martin Del Potro, who recently posted video of himself hitting a tennis ball for the first time in a long while. The grainy video effect might evoke nostalgia in his fans for his glorious summer last year or fervent hope that the Argentine will somehow find a way to defend his title in New York. But it’s looking more and more that his fans this summer will have to settle for relishing the “good old days” which, in America at least, has always been one of our favorite pastimes.

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