Are We Still Playing on Clay? Rafa and Serena Strike Again

After both players missed out on capturing the trophies at Wimbledon, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams are right back on top as the Masters and Tier I events resume with the Rogers Cup in Toronto and Montreal.  Nadal is going to Djokovic a run for the year end world no. 1 despite missing the Australian Open, which would be incredible if he would pull it off.

4) Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 11) Milos Raonic (CAN) 6-2 6-2

-Nadal wins his 58th career title, 8th of 2013, last '13 French Open
-It is his 3rd Rogers Cup win ('05,'08)
-It is his ongoing record 25th Masters title
-He passes Ferrer for the no. 3 ranking while Raonic enters the top 10 for the first time.
-He is now 43-3 on the year and has won the last 3 Masters events.  He has won 4 Masters this year.

Vasek Pospisil advanced when Davydenko retired early in the quarters to reach his first Masters semi and reach no. 40 in the world.  He then lost to Davis Cup teammate Raonic in the semis.  The latter reaches his first Masters final, and now with two top 40 players, one has to give Canada a fighting chance against Serbia in Davis Cup, especially with Nestor in the doubles.  Nadal defeated Djokovic in the de facto final 7-2 in a 3rd set tiebreak.

1) Serena Williams (USA) def. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 6-2 6-0

-Serena wins her 54th career title, 8th of 2013, last '13 Bastad
-It is her 3rd Rogers Cup win ('01,'11) - all have come in Toronto
-It is her 16th "Tier I" title
-She is 56-3 on the year and has won the last 4 Tier I events.
-She is over 3000 points ahead of Azarenka so it is hard to see her not getting year end no. 1 at this point.  Cirstea moves to no. 21 in the world after reaching her first Tier I final.

Cirstea had wins over Kvitova and Li to reach the final but had nothing to offer against Serena, winning just games.  But things are looking up for Romanian tennis with Cirstea and Halep having very nice summers.  Radwanska reached the semis with a win over Errani and then gave Serena a good match, losing 7-6 6-4

Cincinnati got underway today and so we reset the draw and do it all over again.  Will Serena keep her winning streak in tact or will she throw in a clunker somewhere in the draw?  One would have to imagine the top men having a better tournament, and Federer returns to the fray.  Neither Nadal and Djokovic has ever won Cincinnati.  Will one of them, or will Murray or Federer win yet another title there?  How will the Americans fare after a poor Rogers Cup?  Does all this mean anything going into the US Open?  Only time well tell.