Rogers Cup (25-31 July)

For the Rogers Cup, the top ATP stars will be at Toronto’s Aviva Centre. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will be present in Canada, gunning for a fourth Rogers Cup crown. He’ll be joined by Stan Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori and home hope Milos Raonic. 

There’ll be up to four courts of live ATP streaming on TennisTV, with an estimated total of 72 matches. That’s an increase of 75% from last year’s 41-match offering.

As part of those live matches, we’ll be showing doubles right from the start of the week and then all of the quarter-finals, semis and final.

Western & Southern Open (15-21 August)

Three weeks later, live action will come from steamy Cincinnati, Ohio where the Western and Southern Open will be staged once again.

Two-time defending champ Roger Federer is scheduled to be there, alongside Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka.

Over 120 matches across up to seven courts will be covered live on TennisTV during the week, of which around 74 will be ATP contests.

So subscribe now to TennisTV to watch all the live ATP tennis from Toronto, Cincinnati and many more tournaments throughout the rest of 2016.

On Sunday, the ATP ACES For Charity programme presented a $15,000 grant to the Milos Raonic Foundation, ahead of the Canadian’s appearance at the Rogers Cup.

“It’s going on four years now that I decided to start my foundation, along with my family, to really help disadvantaged kids,” said Raonic during his pre-tournament press conference. “We focused on many different things. A few days ago we announced this programme that we’re funding and challenging many other people to raise funds for. It’s the SportFIT programme and a recreation camp to help kids with cerebral palsy throughout the summer be able to get more active, to be able to socially and physically participate in more activities.

“It’s been a great honour for me to have this opportunity not only to make a difference, but also to get to work alongside these kids. Every single time I’ve gone to Holland Bloorview to see the progress the kids have made, it’s been fantastic. It’s really been special to have the continuous relationship with Holland Bloorview and to see where we can take this and hopefully make a difference in a few kids’ lives. So thank you to the ATP.”

To learn more about the Milos Raonic Foundation, click here.

It’s tough to win two Challengers in a row, even more difficult to do it on two different surfaces. How are you playing now and what’s brought about this confidence?

On court, I think I realized my strengths and it’s not to overpower people, but be smart on the court and play my strengths to the other’s guy weaknesses. It’s worked well the past two weeks. I’m trying to get a high first serve percentage, use my forehand and be aggressive when I can.

It seems like that’s a bit of maturity. What does that say about where your game is now?

I’ve played on the ATP Challenger Tour the past two years and think I was worrying about other guy’s game. [thinking] they’re overpowering me. I was complaining a lot. After my first [Challenger] win in Cali, I said to myself, ‘Darian, you have to stick to it and play your game. You can’t worry about your opponent’s game.’ I spoke to my brother before every match and he looks at their weaknesses. The main thing is to stay in the points when I can and be aggressive when I can. I’ve been mentally tough these past two weeks and this is just a great achievement for me.

Mitchell didn’t have his best day out there, but what were you trying to do today?

I spoke to my brother, who’s my coach, and he told me to stay in the point and attack his forehand. You could see during the match that he was striking his backhand very well and very deep. The smarts on the court is what you have to use: slice to the forehand, loop to the forehand, using different varieties, high first-serve percentage and be aggressive when I can. Mitch didn’t show up today, but it’s all in the sport. Hopefully he can play much better next week and come out with a title.

Cali was your first Challenger final. Are you overwhelmed by the moment or taking it in stride?

I’m taking it in stride. I think I have the game to be up there, but it’s just having that belief in yourself. It’s when you wake up and you’re ready and stoked to play. I came up mentally prepared for it and physically strong every day. And I think I wanted it more than the others. In this sport, you have to be willing to work for it and I think that’s what I’ve been doing well.

How different are you now than you were a couple of years ago?

I think I’ve improved my attitude, being ready for every ball and staying focused on the moment. That’s making a good character for me on the court. Everyone’s liking it and I’m glad everyone is liking it. My brother is traveling with me now and before, I was doing it alone. I’m glad for all the help that I’ve been receiving, for people to keep me calm and focused on the court. I’m really thankful for it.

How are you going to celebrate?

I’ll go back to New York, look for friends and just hang out. Take in the moment, relax and then get back to work. 

Novak Djokovic knows the Roger Cup Centre Court inside and out. On Sunday, the three-time champion returned to those familiar confines, but in a different context.

“It was a unique opportunity to share an experience with [NHL players] in their environment,” said Djokovic, who traded his tennis racquet for a hockey stick in joining the annual exhibition ball hockey game alongside professional hockey players Connor McDavid, Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza and other NHLers. ATP World Tour players represented at the event were Denis Kudla, John Millman, Andrey Kuznetsov and the young Canadian trio of Denis Shapovalov, Felix Auger Aliassime and Benjamin Sigouin. “At the same time, it was not an ice rink, so it allowed me and the other tennis players to move around freely. It was the first time that I played hockey, ice rink or not.”

The organisers did not take it easy on the World No. 1, putting him on the spot by making him immediately take a penalty shot, which the goaltender saved. A second attempt beat the netminder, but hit the crossbar and narrowly stayed outside of the goal.

“I enjoyed it, you don’t get these opportunities too often, so I tried to make the best out of it,” said Djokovic, who just missed converting on two other scoring chances during the match, which finished in a tie.

Fabio Fognini defeated Andrej Martin 6-4, 6-1 for the Konzum Croatia Open Umag title, his fourth ATP World Tour crown on Sunday. The Italian improved his final record to 4-7, adding to his trophy cabinet, which includes 2014 Vina del Mar, ’13 Hamburg and ’13 Stuttgart. 

The 29-year-old Fognini is the first Italian winner in tournament history (since 1990). He previously reached the final in Umag in 2013 (l. to Robredo). As winner he earned 250 Emirates ATP Rankings points and €82,450 in prize money.

Martin did well to erase a break point in his first service game to hold for 1-1. Again in the eighth game, Martin faced break points but held his nerve once more to hold for 4-4. Fognini broke Martin for the first set, 6-4, when the Slovakian sent a forehand wide.

With Croatia’s President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović looking on, the second set momentum continued in the direction of the fourth seed as Fognini raced to a 5-0 lead. Martin managed to win one game before the Italian served out the match at love and claimed victory after 68 minutes with an ace.

Slovakian Andrej Martin, who saved five match points to beat compatriot Martin Klizan in the second round, was appearing in his first tour-level final and attempting to become the sixth first-time champion this season. As runner-up he takes home €43,430 and 150 points.