Raonic beats Verdasco second time in a week
Canadian revelation Milos Raonic has vanquished Spain’s world number nine Fernando Verdasco’s hopes for the second time in less than a week. Facing the Spaniard at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, USA, the 20-year-old defeated his opponent
in three sets.
Last Sunday, Raonic had eked out a close victory over the same opponent during the final of the SAP Open in San Jose. Although that victory came in two sets, it had involved two nerve-wracking tie-breaks; this match was similarly close, with a final score-line
of 6-3, 3-6, 7-6.
The Canadian, who got into this tournament through a wildcard, was billed to face the second seed in the first round – the second seed coincidentally happened to be Verdasco. The situation that developed has only occurred four times since 2000. History was
on the wild card’s side though, as whenever two players who’ve featured in a final one week meet in the first round immediately after that final, the winner of the final always triumphs.
History on his side or not, Raonic played well. So did Verdasco, but the North American outplayed him on most occasions. The first set was completely the world number 59’s. He used his tall frame to serve wonderfully. He is fast becoming one of the world’s
best servers, as his 79 percent correct delivery and 89 percent conversion rate off the first serve proves. The Spaniard wasn’t much worse, landing in 62 percent first serves and winning 70 percent of the points on them. He was not, however, good enough to
keep Raonic from taking the first set easily. Verdasco provided his opponent a whopping seven opportunities to break. The Canadian only needed to capitalise on one, and that he did to take the set 6-4.
The second set saw the match see-saw back towards the higher seed. Spurred into action by what looked like certain defeat, he raised his first serve percentage to 74. He also converted more, winning 83 percent of the points on first serve. He also dominated
the return game, limiting Raonic to only 67 percent of the points off of his own first serve. Thus the set ended 6-3, with only one break of serve conceded.
The final set saw both players on a level pegging. No breaks were conceded and serving was immaculate by both the players. As the set went into tie-break, Raonic forged ahead to 3-0. Verdasco clawed his way back though, and took the Canadian to 5 all. Here
Milos Raonic a mini-break, and capitalising on it, took the tie-break, set and match.
The match was a thrilling re-enactment of the final last week. It featured good tennis all round, and was of a better quality than most first round matches are. Here, Raonic might have had a psychological advantage over his opponent, but that does not change
the fact that he played wonderfully. Later on in the tournament, he will face much stiffer tests. Even though he’ll only face top seed Andy Roddick in the final (if he makes it there), players such as Juan Martin Del Porto, Sam Querry and Lleyton Hewitt await
him the in the rounds to come. Victories over such quality opposition will, however, erase all doubts anyone may have about his abilities.
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