Saturday 9 August 2014 22:38, UK
The final four men standing at this year's Toronto Masters will all fancy their chances of claiming a major ATP title in the build-up to this year's US Open.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who has reached the semi-finals by knocking off world No 1 Novak Djokovic and two-time former Canadian champion Andy Murray in Friday's quarter-final has been the player to watch at this year's tournament.
The Frenchman has struggled to find his best form in the last few years after much promise having reached the Australian Open final in 2008.
But the appointment of Thierry Ascione and Nicolas Escude as his new coaching team has helped the confidence of the world No 15.
"I try to be consistent in my work, and I'm sure it will give me some rewards," Tsonga said. "This week is kind of rewards for me, to play like this, to beat two guys in the top 10. It's good, and I hope it will continue."
He will take on Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the final, although it will anything but easy against the Bulgarian who has reached the Wimbledon semi-finals as well as winning titles in Acapulco, Bucharest and Queen's Club this year.
The seventh seed edged out South African Kevin Anderson 5-7 7-5 7-6 (6) to reach the last four and has only lost one out his last 10 matches (against Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semis).
But Tsonga holds a 3-0 head-to-head record against the 23-year-old, and goes into the contest brimming with confidence, although this clash will be a tight one to call. Tsonga is 4-6 win this one with Sky Bet, who make Dimitrov a 6-5 shot.
In the other semi-final, 33-year-old Roger Federer will be looking to move a step closer to a landmark 80th career title when he takes on Spain's Feliciano Lopez.
The 17-time grand slam champion was made to work hard before beating David Ferrer 6-3 4-6 6-3 in the quarter-finals, while Lopez, who beat Czech Tomas Berdych in the previous round, ended the last hope for a homegrown winner in sixth seed Milos Raonic 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-3.
Left-handed Lopez, who retained his Eastbourne crown earlier in the year, is finding his form again after suffering a shoulder injury last month.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon finalist and world No 3 Federer, is seeking to add to his two titles his has won on the circuit this year, in Dubai and the grasscourts of Halle.
Federer holds a 10-0 head-to-head record against Lopez and is unsurprisingly 1/7 on to defeat his opponent with Sky Bet, while Lopez is priced at 9/2 to cause an upset.
Watch Jo-Wilfried Tsonga v Grigor Dimitrov live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm on Saturday.
