Feliciano Lopez rolls past Milos Raonic into the second round of Mutua Madrid Open
World number 39 Feliciano Lopez of Spain fought back after losing the opening set to battle past world number 25 Milos Raonic of Canada in three sets 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 in the opening round of Mutua Madrid Open at the La Caja Mágica
in Madrid on Tuesday.
Raonic broke Lopez in the fifth game of the opening set and consolidated on the single break of serve to grab the set 6-4.
The Canadian’s serve was almost unplayable as he fired 11 aces and 74 percent of the first serves in the opening set. The 20-year-old clinched 85 percent of the first service points in the opening set. The right-handed converted
the only break point chance he received in the first set.
In the second set, Lopez and Raonic failed to break each other’s serve in the first twelve games to tie the score at 6-6, forcing a tie-break. Lopez thrashed Raonic in the tie-break, clinching a couple of mini-breaks to seal it
7-2.
Both players served superbly in the second set. Lopez delivered six aces and 63 percent of the first serves, winning an incredible 92 percent of the points on them. On the other hand, Raonic served even better as he hit 10 aces
and 75 percent of the first serves in the second set. None of the two players faced a break point in the second set.
Lopez broke his opponent in the opening game of the final set and did not allow the Canadian to break back throughout the set, winning it 6-4.
The Spaniard fired three aces and 71 percent of the first serves in the third set. The left-handed saved the only break point he faced and converted one of the three break point opportunities he created in the deciding set.
Lopez is drawn to play world number 3, the Swiss Maestro Roger Federer in the second round.
Talking about his match against Federer, the Spaniard said, "I play tennis and train everyday to play matches like the one tomorrow and against the players like the ones here, the best player in history, it’s really a pleasure.”
The six feet and two inches tall added, "I'm in a very good moment and I've had a very good season on clay and what matters most is the moment because there are incredible moments in everyone's career and you’ve got to play against
Federer and try to face him."
Lopez and Federer will be meeting for the eighth time on tour. The Swiss has won all the seven previous matches between these two.
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