Both have posted awesome freaking numbers in ALL categories to not just leave everybody else way way behind, even the other two contenders are starting to look mundane if not outright out of their league right about now.
It may not be too early to predict a Federer-Murray final with certainty. If it does, Murray’s first win over Federer in a final at Toronto will need to project more than just positive vibes for him to overcome the Slam nerves to get on board for his major titles. If not, the trend of not winning Slams AND defeating Federer in those finals may begin to find a groove deep enough to penetrate the mental shield thereby sending his RV in a tailspin that’s not getting traction anytime soon.
Nadal has to be a close third in this race even though he still has to play his second match. But having Murray on his side of the draw instead of Federer may prove to be too steep a mountain to climb specially after being straighted in Toronto semis 3-6, 4-6 by Murray. Even if Nadal is able to pull off a miracle and beat Murray, the toll it will take may be chronic enough to even neutralize the mental edge Nadal enjoys over Federer in the final.
But with Nadal’s Wimbledon run still fresh where he beat Soderling, Murray and Berdych back to back to back for the title, Nadal cannot totally be discounted. Besides the effect Murray is expected to produce on Nadal in the semis, Soderling may do the equivalent of it on Federer on the other side to even up things.
Djokovic? In his last match he hit twice as many double faults than aces: 8-4. With his history, twice the ‘time on court’ compared to other contenders and the five setter in the opening match, he is just another hard-fought three setter away from elimination.
While Federer and Murray winning here will only validate their recent resurgence on hard courts, Nadal’s win, if at all possible, given the surface, his track record at the Open etc. will once and for all resurrect him as someone who can NEVER be counted out no matter what – including the surface – specially coming so close on heels of his Wimbledon showing.
Click here for the sick stat disparity.
