TORONTO -- Before Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil were born and when they werent yet old enough to hold tennis rackets, a generation of Swedes led by Stefan Edberg, Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander swept the tennis world. Now it might be Raonic and Pospisils turn to do the same as Canadians. "I think theres a chance now with the guys in Canada here that they can do the same journey," Edberg said. "It should be a very exciting time for Canadian tennis going forward now." Considering Raonic beating Pospisil on Sunday in the Citi Open was the first all-Canadian final in the history of the mens tour, this journey is just getting started. What the match also illustrated is that Pospisil has a ways to go to catch up with Raonic, even though hes showing evidence of following him up the rankings. Pospisil, who will face Richard Gasquet in the first round of the Rogers Cup on Tuesday, is ranked 27th in the world after reaching his first ATP final. Raonic is back up to his career high of sixth after winning his sixth title. "For me, just seeing him, growing up with him and beating him when we were younger just motivated me a little bit and feeling I could do it, too," Pospisil said Monday. "I have a lot of areas of my game that I need to work on and fully develop to reach the top 10." Raonic is still the standard for Pospisil and this new generation of Canadian mens tennis players, but the Vancouver native is making strides, especially recently. A back injury contributed to a streak of eight consecutive losses from February through the French Open, and it took some time before Pospisil was 100 per cent again. "I got healthy for the first time this year the week before Wimbledon, and then I built a pretty good momentum," he said. "I felt every week I have been improving, and I feel like Ive got a good groove now." Pospisil got his groove back during doubles play at Wimbledon when he and American partner Jack Sock won it all. Raonic said that doubles run mightve given Pospisil "a perspective and a confidence to really be able to be playing this well that quickly." It has been what Pospisil has called a "pretty amazing couple of years" since being ranked in the 100s. The 24-year-old has improved so much in that period of time that Raonic and others cant help but take notice. "I think hes just constantly getting better, and most importantly you see hes playing consistently a lot of weeks making quarters and hes beating the guys he should be," said Raonic, who is set to play Wednesday night at Rexall Centre. "Thats the first steps you need to make. Thats how you can see that somebody is making progress in a developmental stage." Coming off a tiring week in Washington, Pospisil faces an immediate challenge at the Rogers Cup in the 12th-seeded Gasquet, whom he beat in the Citi Open semifinals. Pospisil used Monday to catch his breath because playing Tuesday is a difficult, quick turnaround. "Im a little bit tired but I wont be tomorrow, just today," Pospisil said. "I didnt get much sleep last night or the night before. So right now Im not feeling great, but I know tomorrow Ill be fit." A third Canadian got into the winning act Monday night as wild card Peter Polansky beat 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist Jerzy Janowicz 7-6(5), 6-4. Polansky, who advances to face second-seeded Roger Federer on Tuesday night, didnt watch the Raonic-Pospisil match in Washington but credits their success as a bit of inspiration. "When youre around your peers and your peers start doing well, I think it pushes everyone and it gives everyone a little extra confidence saying, Im training with this guy, maybe Im beating him a little bit in practice and look where hes ranked," Polansky said. "I think for sure it gives us all a little confidence." Polansky grew up nearby but hadnt won a match at Rexall Centre since 2010. Even though Pospisil has just one victory in four career matches in Toronto, he flashed a wide smile Monday when the topic of playing back home in Canada was brought up. Flash bulbs went off before he explained that excitement about the Rogers Cup served as inspiration over the past couple of weeks. Pospisils lack of success here in the past is much more an indication of where he has been, not where he is as a player right now. Still, hes admittedly a work in progress. "Its an ongoing process over the course of the last 18 months and probably will be the same for years to come, just becoming a complete player all around and being aggressive and thats the key," Pospisil said. "I think thats where I made my biggest jump was when I started being less passive on the court and especially in big moments, and you have to kind of play aggressive and go for it, as all these guys do." With his big, intimidating serve, Raonic is at the point where hes measuring himself against the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Federer. Asked about his best matches of 2014, Raonic pointed to a loss to Djokovic as one of them. Its unlikely Pospisil will look back at Sundays 6-1, 6-4 drubbing at the hands of Raonic in the same way. No matter the opponent, his first final represented an early career milestone. "I would have liked to have been on the winning end of that, obviously, but yeah, its another special moment for me because it was my first final," Pospisil said. "The fact that I was playing another Canadian, Milos, made it more special for sure, I think especially for tennis fans in Canada. But, yeah, I think its more icing on the cake, I guess, for all the good results that we have been having these past few years in Canada." But the match did show a glimpse of what would be the best-case scenario for Pospisil and Raonic: more finals played between the budding rivals. Ilkay Gundogan Germany Jersey . And fellow Leaf, Jake Gardiner, hiking in Whistler. Antonio Rudiger Jersey . Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone dismissed Tuesdays massive anti-government protest in Manama as "a lot of kids having a go at the police." "I dont think its anything serious at all," Ecclestone was quoted as saying in The Guardian newspaper on Wednesday. http://www.germanysoccerpro.com/Marc-Andre-Ter-Stegen-Germany-Jersey/ . Saskatchewans Darian Durant is expected to miss the rest of the Roughriders season with a torn tendon in his right elbow. The 32-year-old, who will undergo surgery in the next couple days to repair the injury, was added to the teams six-game injury list Tuesday. Leon Goretzka Germany Jersey . Pierre last November, only to watch St. Pierre leave the UFC octagon with his welterweight title belt and a split-decision victory. Kevin Trapp Jersey . The Flames are in the midst of a six-game slide (0-5-1), their longest losing streak since an 0-6-3 skid from Jan. 11-28, 2010. They havent won since Nov. 3 in Chicago and most recently went winless on a three-game homestand.MINNEAPOLIS -- At the crack of the bat, San Diego Padres manager Bud Black didnt think centre fielder Alexi Amarista had a chance to get Eduardo Escobars screaming line drive. Step by blazing step, it didnt take Amarista long to give Black and the rest of his team some much-needed hope. Amarista made that game-saving catch in the bottom of the ninth inning and Seth Smith followed with a solo homer in the 10th to lift the Padres to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. "Then I saw Alexis route, and youre sort of watching Alexi and watching the ball," Black said. "And then in flight, you think maybe." Amarista ran backward on a dead sprint and laid out for a brilliant diving catch of the drive with two on and two outs to keep the game tied. "When he hit it, I thought game over," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We just watched their whole outfield move way in with two strikes, and he moved way in when that ball was hit, and Esco got a hold of it really nice, we thought he had no chance to catch that ball. But the young man ran it down, and it was a hell of a play." Smith had two hits and two RBIs. Joaquin Benoit picked up his fourth save in five tries and the Padres earned a split in the two-game series. Trevor Plouffe had a homer and three RBIs for the Twins. But All-Star closer Glen Perkins blew his fourth save in 32 chances this year. San Diego trailed 4-3 going into the ninth against Perkins, but Everth Cabrera tied the game with a sacrifice fly. The Padres earlier in the day hired Texas Rangers assistant GM A.J. Preller as the teams new general manager, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. The speedy Amarista was a late-game defensive replacement, and what a move it was for Black. He raced a good 35 yards or more to track down Escobars hit and the Padres bench erupted when he hauled it in. Smith responded with a drive more than 400 feet off Anthony Swarzak (2-1) into the right-fiield stands for his 12th homer.dddddddddddd. "It was nice to win a game like that," Smith said. "Those are the games you need to win." Kevin Quackenbush (2-2) got the win. TRAINERS ROOM Padres: Yangervis Solarte came up hobbling in the sixth inning after sliding home to tie the game at 3. Solarte appeared to actually roll over a bat laying in his way as he made the slide. But he was able to finish the game at third base. Twins: Gardenhire said first baseman Joe Mauer and right-hander Ricky Nolasco both had successful debuts on their rehab stints with Class A Cedar Rapids on Tuesday night. Mauer (strained right oblique) was scheduled to play first base on Wednesday. If all goes well, Mauer will join the team in Houston next week. Gardenhire said Nolasco (elbow) "felt great" after throwing 51 pitches. He will make at least one more start before being activated. FOR STARTERS Padres right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne gave up four runs on eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings. It was his third straight outing allowing at least four runs and his third straight where he hasnt reached the seventh inning. "Hes been a little bit too up out over the plate for the most part," Black said. YONDER HEATS UP Alonso went 6 for 8 in the series to raise his average to .233. He was activated from the disabled list last week after dealing with right wrist tendinitis, and Black said he can see the difference. "Theres no soreness in his wrist," Black said. "His forearms, his hands, everything having to do with gripping the bat feels good. His timing is there. Hes one of the guys that we need to continue this hitting." UP NEXT Padres: San Diego is off on Thursday before opening a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Friday night. RHP Ian Kennedy (8-9, 3.59) will start the opener against Pirates RHP Vance Worley (4-1, 2.43). Twins: Minnesota starts a four-game series in Oakland on Thursday night. RHP Yohan Pino (1-3, 4.57) pitches for the Twins against newly acquired As LHP Jon Lester (11-7, 2.59). ' ' '