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Deluxe Semifinals in Evening Action

August 13, 2005 - In the evening session, top seed Rafael Nadal will take his 14-match winning streak into the semifinals against Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu. The 19-year-old Spaniard has not lost a match since June 23 at Wimbledon, where he lost to Gilles Muller in the second round. Nadal leads the ATP circuit in match wins (63) and is co-title (8) leader (w/Federer).

He holds a 63-8 match record, including 14-4 on hard courts, and is undefeated in semifinal matches this year (9-0). He has not dropped serve all week (a career-best 42 consecutive games won) and with his 63rd win of the season, it is the most by a teenager since Andre Agassi (63-11) in 1988.

In their previous meeting in the first round of the ATP Masters Series Hamburg in May 2003, Nadal prevailed 75 64. At that time Nadal was ranked No. 87 while Mathieu was No. 44. Nadal currently is No. 2 in the INDESIT Entry Rankings while Mathieu is No. 63.

Mathieu is playing in his first career ATP Masters Series semifinal. The Strasbourg native, who won back-to-back ATP titles in Lyon and Moscow in 2002, last reached an ATP final on Sept. 29, 2003 in Palermo. In that final, the Frenchman lost in the final to Nicolas Massu 16 62 76(0). Mathieu is 3-2 in semifinal career matches and he holds a 21-19 match record this season (10-4 on hard courts).

In the last match of the night, Andre Agassi and Greg Rusedski will step on the court for the second time on Saturday after finishing their respective quarterfinal matches suspended from Friday due to rain. The American will take a 7-2 lead in the series against Rusedski and has won the last four consecutive times. (Last time - 2002 Miami 2nd round - 6-3 6-1).

Agassi has compiled a 37-10 record in 13 appearances. This is his 10th quarterfinal (or better) in Canada. This is one of the most successful ATP Masters Series tournaments for the Las Vegas native, having won the title three times (1992, 1994-95). He reached the semifinals in his first appearance (1989) before falling to Lendl in three sets. He avenged loss to Lendl three years later when he won the tournament for the first time in 1992. Went on a tear advancing to the quarterfinals or better in six appearances, going 24-3 during that stretch, including four semifinal appearances (1994,1995, 1998, 1999). Has played in Canada five of the last six years (except 2002) with his best result a quarterfinal here in 2003. Lost to Jurgen Melzer in the second round last year. This week has defeated Alberto Martin 6-4, 6-2 in the first round, Jonas Bjorkman 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 in the second round, Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 6-2 in the third round and Gaston Gaudio 6-3, 6-4 in the quartefinals.

The 35-year-old Las Vegas resident claimed his 60th career title on July 31 by winning the Mercedes-Benz Cup in Los Angeles for the fourth time (d. Muller). He has now won nine straight matches dating back to Los Angeles two weeks ago. In his past seven matches he has only dropped a set twice (against Paradorn Srichaphan in LA and Jonas Bjorkman in the Rogers Masters. He comes in with a 30-9 match record (24-5 on hard) this season. He started the year off by reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open (l. to Federer). Reached the quarterfinals or better in the next six tournaments, including semifinal appearances in ATP Masters Series in Miami and Rome. Entered Roland Garros at No. 10 in the INDESIT ATP 2005 Race, but had to retire in his first round match to Jarkko Nieminen due to injury. Missed Wimbledon for second straight year, but fought back to claim title in Los Angeles.

The Brit is making his eighth tournament appearance in Canada and he holds a 7-7 record. This is his first appearance in the quarterfinals, surpassing his previous best result of the third round in his Toronto debut in 1992 when he lost to eventual champion Andre Agassi. Has won three consecutive three-set matches this week, defeating Swiss qualifier Stanislas Wawrinka 67(5) 62 63 in the first round, serve-and-volleyer Max Mirnyi 46 64 76(2) in the second round, Mario Ancic 62 36 62 in the third round and Dominik Hrbaty 6-3, 6-4.

The 31-year-old left-hander won his 15th career ATP title in Newport (d. Spadea) along with the semifinals in Indianapolis (l. Dent) last month. He also reached the third round in Washington last week (l. Karlovic). Since his second round loss to Joachim Johansson at Wimbledon, has compiled a 13-2 match record. This is his first ATP Masters Series quarterfinal since 2001 Cincinnati (and eighth of his career). He and Agassi (35) are the two oldest players remaining in the quarterfinals. Has a 24-14 match record on the season (13-4 on hard). He is on pace to finish in the Top 50 for the 10th time in the last 13 years (came in here No. 40 in the INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking).

One of the most accessible tournaments

The Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is more accessible than ever thanks to the Uniprix Zone, Neighbourhood Day, and Tide & Downy Family Day.

Excellent tickets are still available for all sessions on Centre Court and for the National Bank Court. Tickets start at just $10, with the final weekend starting at just $40. For more information on this tournament or to buy tickets, call (514) 273-1515 (toll free 1-866-338-2685).

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