Milos Raonic downs Benjamin Becker in the semi-final – Regions Morgan Keegan Championships 2012
Fourth seed, Milos Raonic of Canada, reached the title match for the second consecutive year in Memphis, as he ousted world number 284 Benjamin Becker in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-final at the Regions Morgan Keegan
Championships on Saturday. Raonic required only an hour and 15 minutes to beat Becker in a one-sided contest.
Raonic and Becker won their serve in the first eight games, levelling the score at 4-4. The Canadian broke Becker in the ninth game and served out the set at 5-4.
The 21-year-old was brilliant on his serves, smacking seven aces and claiming an amazing 13 of the 14 first delivery points. Raonic also pressurised the German with his powerful returns down the line. The Canadian grabbed
eight of the 14 second ones in the opener.
Raonic took an early lead in the second set, as he snatched a break in the very first game and held his serve in the next to go ahead 2-0. The Canadian did not give Becker any opportunity to come back into the match, capturing
it 6-4.
The right-hander matched his previous set’s performance of seven aces but also conceded a couple of double faults this time but Becker went one step ahead to commit three. Raonic converted 16 of the 17 first serves into points.
The Canadian did not face any break point and utilised the only opportunity he received in the second set.
Talking to the reporters after the match, Raonic said, "I felt in the beginning, he started well, especially serving. But I was able to get close in the games, and that put a little pressure on him.”
The Canadian added, "It was really good that I kept it going at the start of the second set, because after that, he started to play better. For a little bit in the second set, I was waiting for too many mistakes from him.
He picked it up and I was playing a little too predictable for a bit. I gave myself a chance at the end of the second set and played a good return game. I felt the key was my serve in my service games."
Raonic has not dropped even a single set after losing to Lleyton Hewitt in the round of 32 at the Australian Open, winning 19 in a row. The Canadian defeated Denis Istomin in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-2 in the final to win
SAP Open last week.
The world number will play unseeded Jurgen Melzer in the title match.
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