Milos Raonic scrambles David Nalbandian in the opener – Mutua Madrid Open 2012
Canada’s rising sensation, Milos Raonic, continued the good run on his least favoured surface, as he eased past former world number three, David Nalbandian of Argentina, in twin sets 6-4, 6-4 in the first round at the Mutua Madrid
Open on Tuesday.
Raonic has entered this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in brilliant form, as he stunned world number four, Andy Murray, on his way to the semi-finals at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell two weeks back.
In this opening round match at the Mutua Madrid Open, the Canadian struck in the very first game and held his next serve to attain a 2-0 lead. Raonic did not lose the advantage till the end, closing it out at 6-4.
The 21-year-old kept firing aces on his big first deliveries, hitting a total of nine in the first set. He banged in 67 percent of the first serves and amazingly did not lose even a single point on them, snatching all 16. The Canadian
could not give the same level of performance on the first returns, losing 12 of the 13 points on them but gave back something by winning seven of the 12 on the second ones.
Raonic and Nalbandian started stably in the second set, holding their serve in the first eight games and levelling the score at 4-4. The Canadian broke the ice by breaking Nalbandian in the ninth and capitalising on it to win 6-4.
Ranked 23rd in the world, Raonic kept on dominating with the help of his huge serves, pounding seven aces in the second set. The Canadian had an outstanding conversion rate, winning the entire 11 first and nine of the
11 second delivery points. The 6ft 5in tall availed one of the two break chances he had and did not give any to his opponent.
Raonic sealed victory in just an hour and 15 minutes, moving to the next stage.
The Canadian will lock horns with Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, in the second round.
Talking about Federer, Raonic said, "He's achieved a lot of great things but tomorrow when we step on the court he's just an opponent and somebody who wants the same thing I do.”
The Canadian added, "You respect him but not too much. He's just another player who's trying to take away from you what you want."
Raonic will try to take revenge from Federer, as he lost to the 16-time Grand Slam winner in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
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