MONTREAL – Rafael Nadal defeated Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-2 at the US$3.49-million Rogers Cup on Sunday to end the Canadian’s hopes of ending a 55-year title drought at the country’s biggest tennis tournament.
Robert Bedard of Sherbrooke, Que., the last Canadian to win what was then called the Canadian Open in 1955, was in attendance to see Nadal claim his third Rogers Cup, to go with wins in 2005 and 2008.
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Raonic, of Thornhill, Ont., was the first Canadian since the now 81-year-old Bedard even to reach the final.
Nadal, playing for the first time since his first-round loss at Wimbledon in June, posted his eighth tournament win this year and the 58th of his career.
He won $522,550, while Raonic took in $256,220.
By reaching the final, the 22-year-old Raonic will move up to 10th in world rankings, a record for a Canadian. He will be the youngest player in the top 10. Nadal will move from fourth to third.
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