ARTICLES:

• Nadal & Djokovic Headline Doubles Draw As Bryans Seek First Montreal Crown (via ATP World Tour)

Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco open with a blockbuster clash against Tomas Berdych and Jack Sock. Nadal, who opens his quest for a fourth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 doubles title, is joining forces with his compatriot for the first time in 10 years. He previously claimed Masters 1000 trophies in Monte-Carlo 2008 (w/Robredo) and Indian Wells 2010, ’12 (w/M Lopez).

• Djokovic Top Seed In Montreal, Raonic Eyes Milestone Win (via ATP World Tour)

Nadal (2005, 2008, 2013): The three-time winner is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his first Canadian title (d. Agassi). Has a 26-6 career record in Canada (16-3 in Montreal, 10-3 in Toronto). In his last appearance two years ago, he won the title (d. No. 1 Djokovic in SF, Raonic in F). This season, he has compiled a 39-12 match record (26-6 on clay, 8-4 on hard, 5-2 on grass) with three titles (Buenos Aires, Stuttgart, Hamburg).

• Rafael Nadal looking to end slide at Rogers Cup (via Toronto Sun)

“Normally I don’t lose the smile. I do not have one reason to lose the smile, even if I lose 100 tennis matches in the future,” Nadal said. “In general, I feel very lucky about my life, how it goes. I have the people that I love around me. I have the general health of myself. I enjoy playing golf. My life is very close to the sea. I enjoy being in the sea. I enjoy scuba diving, swimming, fishing. When I’m at home, I do the normal life of a 29 years old guy. I go out with friends, I visit family, cinema, golf … normal things. I enjoy the life outside of tennis.

“Tennis has been a very important part of my life, for sure, but I always say the same: Tennis is not everything for me.”

• Retirement not on Nadal radar (via AFP/Yahoo)

Rafael Nadal insisted Sunday that retirement is not on his mind despite a year in which he was dethroned as French Open champion and saw his ranking slip to its lowest in a decade.

The 29-year-old former world number one and 14-time major winner said that he will hang up his racquet only when he has lost the thrill of playing the sport.

• Five semifinal questions heading into Canada (via ESPN)

If Rafael Nadal is going to salvage his year and get earn back his Big Four status, Montreal would be a good place for him to start. He’s won this tournament as often as any other hard-court Masters 1000 (three times), and he’s coming off a win in Hamburg.

• Second-Half Kickoff (via tennis.com)

Rafael Nadal, who has won twice in Montreal, is the top seed on that side. After his title in Hamburg, is it time to start counting Rafa back in, rather than out? He also has the draw to go deep. Nadal will start against Sergiy Stakhovsky or Filip Peliwo, and the highest seed on his side is Gilles Simon.

VIDEOS:

• Rafael Nadal Pre-Rogers Cup Press Conference (via Open Court)
• Rafael Nadal practices in Montreal (via BAtennis)
• Rafael Nadal plays tennis with Montreal Impact’s football player Ignacio Piatti (via rds.ca)