Cincinnati preview: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in two-way battle for No. 1 ranking

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • UPDATED — As one Masters 1000 event wraps up in Montreal on Sunday, a new one kicks off in Cincinnati, where the battle for the No. 1 ranking will heat up.

    Once again – in the absence of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, and Marin Cilic – Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer headline the field as the top two seeds, and the only top-six players in action.

    Cilic, out nursing an abductor injury, will not be able to defend his title, while last year’s runner-up Murray is still recovering from a hip problem.

    The only three players to win Masters 1000 events this season are Nadal, Federer and Alexander Zverev.

    Kei Nishikori pulled out of Cincinnati on Sunday with a right wrist issue as injuries continue to plague the Japanese world No9. He was replaced in the draw by lucky loser Janko Tipsarevic.

    Here’s a closer look at the Cincinnati draw and the main storylines heading into the tournament.

    PROJECTED QUARTER-FINALS (BY SEED)

    Rafael Nadal (ESP) [1] v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [8]

    Dominic Thiem (AUT) [3] v Kei Nishikori (JPN) [5] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) [11]

    Milos Raonic (CAN) [6] v Alexander Zverev (GER) [4]

    Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) [7] v Roger Federer (SUI) [2]

    FIRST ROUNDS TO WATCH

    David Goffin (BEL) [9] v Nick Kyrgios (AUS)

    Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) v Tomas Berdych (CZE) [10]

    Mischa Zverev (GER) v Fernando Verdasco (ESP)

    Diego Schwartzman (ARG) v Karen Khachanov (RUS)

    MAIN STORYLINES

    Two-way battle for top spot

    Andy Murray will lose his No. 1 ranking in Cincinnati, and the question is: Who will replace him at the top – Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer?

    Had Federer won the Montreal title on Sunday (lost in straights to Zverev), he would have needed to match or better Nadal’s result in Cincinnati in older to clinch the No. 1 ranking.

    But since the Swiss lost in Canada, Nadal has a better chance of reaching the top. The winner of the Cincy crown will also walk away with the No. 1 ranking.

    Since reaching the summit of the rankings for the first time in February 2004, Federer has spent a record 302 weeks at world No. 1. His streak of 237 consecutive weeks at the top is also a record.

    The last time Federer was ranked No. 1 in the world was November 4, 2012.

    Nadal has occupied the top position in the rankings for a total of 141 weeks. The last time the Spaniard was No. 1 was July 6, 2014.

    Federer has placed some doubt on his Cincinnati participation saying his body felt a bit sore. But he will make his final decision in the next couple of days.

    Can Zverev keep this up?

    Zverev has won 17 of his last 19 matches, with his only defeats during that stretch coming to Federer in the Halle final, and Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon fourth round.

    He won Washington earlier this month, beat Federer in the Montreal final on Sunday, and is shaping up to be one of the favourites heading into the US Open (begins August 28). He’s on a 10-match winning streak and is up to a career-high ranking of No. 7.

    Will he run out of steam by the time New York comes around, or does the 20-year-old have it in him to keep it going and enjoy a breakthrough at the Open? He’s sustained a high level over the past few weeks. It’s hard seeing him lose momentum before the final Grand Slam of the season.

    Which NextGen star will shine?

    With Zverev miles ahead of his fellow NextGen players (those aged 21 and under, ranking in the top-200), the chasing pack in the Race to Milan standings are almost in a separate league, competing amongst one another.

    Canadian teen Denis Shapovalov had a phenomenal week in Montreal, where he reached the semis, beating Juan Martin del Potro and Rafael Nadal along the way.

    NextGen players to look out for in Cincinnati would be:

    – Daniil Medvedev, who has a tricky opener against Fabio Fognini, before a potential second round with third-seeded Dominic Thiem’;

    – Borna Coric, who fell tamely to Nadal in Montreal, and opens against Nikoloz Basilashvili, with a potential round two against Milos Raonic;

    – American wildcards Stefan Kozlov, Jared Donaldson, Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul;

    – Chung Hyeon, who had a decent week in Montreal, where he defeated Feliciano Lopez and David Goffin before losing to Adrian Mannarino. Incidentally, he opens against Lopez again this week in Cincinnati;

    – Karen Khachanov, who has a brutal draw facing Montreal quarter-finalist Diego Schwartzman in round one before a potential second round with Federer.

    Will the ‘LostGen’ find their way?

    With so much focus on veterans like Nadal and Federer, and NextGen stars like Zverev, whatever happened to the generation in between?

    Players like Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori (and Grigor Dimitrov were meant to be the ones taking on the baton from the ‘Big Four’. But as they’ve all crossed the 25-year-old threshold, none of them have managed to win a Masters 1000 title so far in their careers, and collectively, they’ve won two titles in 2017 – both claimed by Dimitrov.

    With the US Open two weeks away, can the ‘LostGen’ shoot their way into contention?

    KEY STATS

    Injured Cilic will not be able to defend his title.

    Injured Cilic will not be able to defend his title.

    1 Cincinnati title for Nadal in 11 previous appearances. Was champion in 2013.

    1 – non-Big Four member has won Cincinnati in the last 10 years – Cilic in 2016.

    2 former Cincinnati champions are in the draw – Nadal and Federer.

    7 – times Federer has won Cincinnati. Has a 42-8 win-loss record there.

    10 — consecutive wins for Alexander Zverev entering Cincinnati.

    30 – Masters 1000 titles won by Nadal – a record he shares with Djokovic.

    Recommended