There are lots of GIFS/images in The Racquet. It may need time to load. I promise it's worth it 😅 View this email in your browser. 'The Racquet' is concise ATP tennis news, stats and analysis, delivered weekly/daily to your inbox. Make sure you never miss an issue: Subscribe SPOILER FREE ZONE 🎥 If you don't want to see the results yet, and want to catch up with the highlights, stop here. Links:



Djokovic 🎥 Tsitsipas



Tiafoe 🎥 Dimitrov



A. Zverev 🎥 Medvedev



Schwartzman 🎥 Cilic



Shapovalov 🎥 Haase



Isner 🎥 Khachanov



Match Of The Day : Nadal 🎥 Wawrinka RESULTS 🎾 💥 = Beatdown

🤕 = Injury

‼️ = Upset



Featured matches:



Tsitsipas d Djokovic 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 ‼️



Brilliant performance from Tsitsipas, not so much from Novak. This match probably should have been over in straight sets, but credit to Novak for digging in and taking it to a decider despite facing multiple break points late in the 2nd. Stefanos did a fantastic job of serving big when under pressure, and hitting deep but safe spots with some booming groundstrokes, to consistently keep Djokovic off balance. The Greek finished with 84% 1st serve points won and 68(!)% 2nd serve points won. Some of that was down to great serving and some was down to Novak having one of his worst ever days on return: winning just 16% (9/55) of 1st serve return points and only 12/37 on the 2nd serve return. Big win for Stefanos, likely just a blip for Djokovic.





Dimitrov d Tiafoe 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(4)



Another much-needed, gritty win for Dimitrov that ensures he continues to rebuild his ropey 2018 season. Both guys were very even on stats with the difference really coming down to Grigor's clutch serving and Tiafoe's backhand. The young American's backhand was a liability for periods of the match and gave Grigor too many free points and short balls. Grigor is once again winning without playing his best tennis, which can only be good news for his current mentality. If he finds some better form he could put a run together at the tail end of this year.



Nadal d Wawrinka 7-5, 7-6(4)



Stan may have lost, but this was the most encouraging sign that he may be able to get back to his pre-surgery level so far in his comeback. He comfortably hung with, and troubled, the wold No.1 for the vast majority of the match, and seems to have rediscovered the devastating power off both his forehand and backhand that has been missing since the knee injury. A match full of powerful, aggressive shotmaking, both guys routinely lit it up with powerful winners from deep in their own half of the court. Both served well but Rafa did the better job defending his 2nd serve (63% 2nd serve points won vs 48% for Stan), which meant that Wawrinka had to deal with more constant pressure. Rafa's response after going down a break in the 2nd set was impressive.



Also:



Anderson d Ivashka: 7-5, 6-3

Haase d Shapovalov: 7-5, 6-2

Cilic d Schwartzman: 6-3, 6-2 💥

A. Zverev d Medvedev: 6-3, 6-2 💥

Khachanov d Isner: 7-6(5), 7-6(1) SHOTS OF THE DAY 😮 Absolutely crazy defence from Stan.

(TennisTV) This Dimitrov forehand was HUGE. Haase with the elusive drop shot return of serve. The ball would probably have spun back into the net if Shapo hadn't reached it,

(TennisTV) Such great awareness of where Stan was at the net. Slice, backhand pass from Rafa

(TennisTV) What a way for Rafa to break back in the 2nd set.

(TennisTV) The anticipation and the touch from Tsitsipas.

(TennisTV) Good to see this shot back in full-flow.

(TennisTV) INTERVIEW/PRESS BEST BITS 🎤 Dimitrov after his 2nd gritty, 3-set win in a row:



"Clearly I’m not playing my best tennis, but I’m managing to win. I’m feeling more stable on court and hopefully everything falls into place. I feel like I’m playing better every point."

Source

Novak post-loss:



- “Losing in this kind of tournament, it's not something I don't care about. It really frustrates me. But I have to accept it, deal with it, and move on.”



- "I just played not that great, especially from the baseline. I didn't return well. So all in all, it wasn't that great of a match. You have those days, and better earlier than later in this series.”



- “Hopefully these next few days with doubles and practice sessions, I can get what I need before Cincinnati.”

Source

Rafa on-court interview post-win. “It was a good match. Of course, a very positive victory for me against a very tough opponent,” “Happy to see Stan playing that well again."

Shapo on how the smaller Grandstand court helped him yesterday:



"It helped me a lot because it (the Grandstand court) was so ecstatic, so energetic bc it's so compact, that it actually bothered Fognini quite a bit ..."

Source



He was right: WHO'S PLAYING TOMORROW? ⏰ Centre Court 12:30pm Start - Local Time (5:30pm UK)



Dimitrov vs Anderson (H2H: 6-1)

A. Zverev vs Tsitsipas (H2H: 1-0)



NB 6:30pm - Local Time (11pm UK)



Haase vs Khachanov (1st Meeting)



NB 8pm - Local Time (2am UK)



Nadal vs Cilic (H2H: 5-2) EXTRAS...🔍🎤📊 Dominic Thiem blamed a virus/jet-lag, that also forced him to withdraw from doubles in Toronto, as the reason behind a poor performance (losing in straights) yesterday vs Tsitsipas.

Source

Fognini has withdrawn from Cincinnati next week.

Looking likely that Del Potro will also miss Cincinnati with the left wrist injury that forced him out of Toronto. Reports that he's back in Miami and will head to New York next to prep for the US Open after resting his wrist.

Source

Tsitsipas will rise to No 23 in the rankings after his win over Djokovic. One more W and he'll crack the Top 20 for the first time.

It looks like Djokovic will have to play another Rd 1 in Cincinnati next week. Will probably be No.9 going into the tournament if Delpo doesn't play (Top 8 seeds get Rd 1 byes).

Following his run this run, Wawrinka should re-enter the top 150 in the rankings next week. His comeback has finally started. Rafa's USO Kit. Whole Collection Kyrgios, Shapo, Tiafoe, Sock USO Kit. Jeff Sackman @tennisabstract wrote a great analysis on the cost of the double fault: Full post

Source The first paragraph is something I have never heard Nadal say until now. He's always been adamant that he needs to play himself into form with match-play, but now seems to be realising that he's good/experienced enough to enter events colder than before. Good news for his longevity.

Source That's gonna be a big yikes from me. Shapovalov had a bit of a shocker yesterday RE: court scheduling and his presser. When he was asked why he deleted a tweet complaining about being moved off centre court this was his response... I'm hoping someone tells him this comes across as conceited. Novak classy in defeat as always.

(TennisTV) LOL 😂

Source Murray's Q&A on Instagram. He no longer gives a sh*t and I love it. Decent Racquet stomp from Novak. Oddly satisfying watching him neatly stow his obliterated racquet under the chair.

(TennisTV) doublefault28 Dimitrov is the first victim of the shot clock. He wasn't happy about it.

(TennisTV) doublefault28

(TennisTV) The fans reaction behind Rafa is amazing.(TennisTV) doublefault28 ¿My sweat is slippy, no¿

(TennisTV) 'The Racquet' is concise ATP tennis news, stats and analysis, delivered weekly/daily to your inbox. Make sure you never miss an issue: Subscribe Tweet Forward GAME, SET & MATCH 👋 The Racquet is created, and written, by Matt. You can find me on twitter by tapping/clicking this. You early subscribers (Beta testers) get access to 'The Racquet' Discord. Tap/click the Discord button below to join (we even have Jerzy Janowicz emojis). If you know anyone who would like 'The Racquet' here is the link to send them so they can sign up: https://theracquet.co See you tomorrow for Day 5 of Toronto!