With three weeks to go for the US Open, the excitement is palpable as the top players make their first appearance on the summer hardcourts at this week's Rogers Cup.
Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray lead the top men at the Montreal venue with only world no. 5 Robin Soderling and American Andy Roddick missing from the roster due to injuries.
Wozniacki, Clijsters, Sharapova and Serena Williams headline the women's event in Toronto where all of the top 24 ranked women will complete. The only marquee name missing is Venus Williams, who pulled out of event at the nth hour due to a viral illness.
You know its been a slow week on the courts when the biggest tennis stories came from off the court. Djokovic prepared himself for Toronto by competing on the American talk show circuit; Nadal made his Twitter debut and within a few hours had 100,000 followers; and Roger Federer celebrated his 30th birthday on Monday - still looking fresh and young in tennis years but at the same time, growing weary of questions on his ability to stay in the mix with younger rivals.
Radek Stepanek is two years older than Federer but that did not stop the Czech from putting together a perfect week in Washington to win the Legg Mason Classic. Stepanek, who once dated Martina Hingis and is now married to Nicole Vaidisova, beat top seed Gael Monfils in straight sets for his first title in over 2 years and ensured himself a US Open seeding.
Another player making the headlines in Washington was Donald Young - the oldest 22 year old in the history of tennis. Young reached his first ever ATP semi-final with wins over Jurgen Melzer and Marcos Bagdhatis and returns to the top 100. Meanwhile, in Kitzbuhel, Dutchman Robin Haase won his first career title, beating Albert Montanes in straight sets.
On the women's side, Poland's Agniezska Radwanska won her first title in 3 years - putting on a virtuoso performance in the Mercury Insurance Open final to beat world no. 3 Vera Zvonareva. The Polish player, the least accomplished of the best friends troika of Azarenka-Wozniacki-and herself, recently relieved her father of coaching duties after several clashes with him, the most recent one at the French Open when her father told the media that his daughter may need a psychiatrist to help her become mentally stronger.
Ana Ivanovic also had a good week - making the semi-finals and three American youngsters reached the last 16, including teenager Sloane Stephens who went one ahead and made the quarter-finals.
From India's perspective, Somdev Devvarman won a round in Washington before losing to Baghdatis in 7-5 in the third while Sania Mirza was a first round loser again.
The others have had their day in the spotlight; its now the turn of the stars to shine this week in Canada.
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