The Top 8 collide in the quarters
The history of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers is rich in quality and tennis royalty, and the 2009 edition in Montréal remains one of the most powerful memories in the awesome NBO legend.
For the first time since 1973, the Top 8 collided in the quarterfinals—something no ATP tournament or Slam had seen.
On Friday, August 14, Roger Federer (SUI), Rafael Nadal (ESP), Andy Murray (GBR), Novak Djokovic (SRB), Andy Roddick (USA), Juan Martin de Potro (ARG), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) and Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) were all still in action.
With high winds swirling, they took to the courts at IGA Stadium to battle it out.
Read: So long, Andy Murray!
First, Tsonga took Federer by surprise (to say the least) with a 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (3) win thanks to two tiebreaks.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal, who hadn’t competed since May due to injury, was ousted by the towering Juan Martin del Potro (7-6 (5), 6-1).
Andy Murray was calm and carried on, pulverizing Davydenko (6-2, 6-4) in a one-sided skirmish.
And the other Andy, the fifth-seeded Roddick, sent Djokovic packing in two (6-4, 7-6 (4)).
That left Murray vs. Tsonga and Roddick vs. Del Potro in the final four.
The first of a few for Andy Murray
Spectacular semis were in store. Murray held off a fiery Tsonga (6-4, 7-6 (8)) in a memorable match, and while Roddick withstood Del Potro’s blows as best he could, the Argentine ultimately prevailed in their nearly three-hour battle (4-6, 6-2, 7-5).
Come Sunday, the heavily anticipated final lived up to all expectations. At the outcome of a roller-coaster three-setter, the more constant competitor came away with the crown. Murray dropped the first set 7-6(4), earned the second in a tiebreak 7-6(3) and then dominated in the third (6-1).
To the massive applause of the crowds, Sir Andy raised the winner’s trophy.
As it turns out, the 2009 Canadian Masters was the first of three he’d add to his trophy case. He took the top honours in Toronto in 2010 and then again in Montréal in 2015.
There have been amazing moments at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, and there are many, many more in store.
Feature photo: The Guardian
