Best matches of 2011 ATP World Tour: Part Four – Tennis Special
A number of young tennis players enter the professional circuit every year but only a few make big names among the vast field of dazzling players with their amazing skills. A better ranked player in a matchup is always considered
to be the favourite for winning but the contest turns into a thriller when a lower ranked competitor beats all the odds to take down his opponent far superior to him in rankings.
Our review of looking back into the recent past continues and we shall go through another thrilling contest of the 2011 ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) season, which shall be remembered for a long time.
Andy Roddick vs. Milos Raonic – Memphis final
Once ranked as the best male tennis player in the world, Andy Roddick of the United States is believed to have lost his flare after playing for these many years. The 29-year-old veteran started off the 2011 ATP season as the world
number eight but his lack of performance pushed him down to the 21st spot in August this year. Roddick made a steady recovery to finish the circuit at the 14th spot in the South African Airways ATP World Rankings and looks very determined
to improve further.
The Canadian youngster, Milos Raonic, rocked the tennis world this season with some startling performances, revealing his magnificent skills in the sport. The 21-year-old took off year with a ranking of 156 among men but rocketed
away to the 31st position by the end of the 2011 season. Raonic finished off his circuit run with 31-19 winning record and also claimed his maiden ATP championship title in San Jose to break in the winners’ circle. His one-on-one battle against
the former world number one, Roddick, in the final of an ATP World Tour 500 event in Memphis is considered to be one of the most nail biting competitions of the entire season.
The Regions Morgan Keegan Championship took place on the hard courts of Memphis, the United States, in February this year and the two contestants outclassed every other opponent to meet in the final of the tournament. Rated at
number eight in men’s rankings that time, Roddick was a clear favourite for winning the competition and it was anticipated that it will be another routine work for the American veteran to dispose of the 59th ranked youngster in the competition.
The level of competition which Raonic posed to Roddick was hardly expected by anyone but the 21-year-old Canadian remained pretty unlucky in the end to lose the title opportunity.
“He had a great volley there," said Roddick, who claimed his 30th tour-level title. "I don’t really remember much else besides the fact that I went for the ball, I hit it, I didn’t really think much of it. Then I heard people cheering.
I was like, 'No, there’s no way that went in.' I guess it did.”
Roddick had to labour extremely hard to clinch the opening set tie breaker at 7-6(7), getting one up in the competition. Another enthralling set was followed and it was Raonic who claimed the nail-biting tie-breaker this time round,
finishing at 7-6(11). The final set also went to the wire and it appeared at a moment that the youngster would pull out one of his biggest victory by taking down a Top-10 player but Roddick proved far too experienced than him. The veteran closed out the competition
with one of the best tennis shots we have ever witnessed. As Raonic fired a forehand stroke, it appeared to be a perfect winner for the Canadian but Roddick surged with his full pace and lunged forward with a full length dive to convert the volley into the
match winning return. He wrapped up victory at 7-5 to claim another ATP championship title in an extremely thrilling manner.
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