Rogers Cup: 9 Lessons We've Learned About the Upcoming U.S. Open

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The Montreal Masters has come and gone. Novak Djokovic has been crowned champion, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer asked a lot of our collective imaginations and, in return, tennis fans were given their fair share of surprises.

Markers were laid down, contenders proved a point and non-starters simply left it beyond doubt.

We move on to the Cincinnati Masters next, but here are the nine things we've learned over the past week in Montreal about the upcoming US Open.   

9. Ivan Dodig Will Never......

...beat Rafael Nadal again. 

8. Mardy Is No Fish out of Water

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Reaching the final in Montreal, taking a set off Novak Djokovic and flying the flag for the USA, Mardy Fish has had a great week in Montreal.

Much touted to make a deep run at the US Open, Fish has only ratcheted up the hype with his solid performances this week.

On current form, Fish is playing like a bona fide top 10 player.

7. Berdych Is Overrated

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Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych was one of tennis' rising stars in 2010. This year hasn't worked out quite as well.

Losing 6-4, 6-4 to Janko Tipsarevic in the quarterfinals in Montreal, he failed to display anything of the sort of form that will win majors.

Tomas Berdych is quite simply overrated. 

6. Del Potro Will Trouble No-One

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Juan Martin Del Potro was the victim of an early round loss to Serbian Viktor Troicki and looked like he was still in the process of finding his feet after his long injury layoff.

Quite unlike Berdych, Juan Martin Del Potro, is not overrated but his chances at the US Open are slim. The Argentine will have to wait another year before he can trouble anyone at the US Open. 

5. More Question Marks over Andy Murray

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Andy Murray was knocked out in the 3rd round of the US Open last year, he has lost in all three Grand Slam finals he has been in and was knocked out in the 1st round in Montreal in straight sets.

The Scot—world's No.4—has simply added more questions about his viability as a consistent top four player to an already long list.   

4. Midfield Is Catching Up to Roger Federer

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There's only so many times one can say that his opponent "deserved it today"  without being laughed at and for Roger Federer—due to the level of play he is aspiring to—time is running out.  

3. Nadal Will Need to Get His Act Together

After his loss to Ivan Dodig, Rafael Nadal says it perfectly well in this interview:

"Play[ing] well is win[ning] when you have to win."

2. Tsonga Will Be a Clear and Present Danger

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Mauling Roger Federer with an amazing barrage of high quality tennis is quite the feat. Doing it for a second time, in their Montreal 3rd round match, was nothing short of sublime.

Although Jo-Wilfried Tsonga failed to reach the final of the tournament, he showed—nay, reinforced—that over five sets there was a lot more he could offer.

Tsonga is a clear and present danger to everyone, especially Roger Federer. 

1. Novak Is Still Ahead of the Field

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There's not much I can say about Novak Djokovic that isn't already obvious from this tournament alone. He has succeeded where his rivals have failed, he has roared when his rivals have whimpered—I've run out of words. Anyway, I think the general point has been gotten across.

Novak Djokovic is still quite a distance ahead of the field—winning the title in Montreal is merely the icing on the cake. It doesn't half hurt that in doing so he's become the first man to win five Masters 1000 titles in one season.