Raonic Withdraws from Acalpulco

Milos Raonic has unfortunately withdrawn from his first clay court tournament of the year. According to a tsn article, Raonic is withdrawing in order to rest. This is understandable considering this week he played five three set matches in five days.

Another possibility comes from the Tennis Canada Twitter page. According to this feed, Raonic has a shoulder injury.

Milos #Raonic has withdraw from the #ATP event in Acapulco with a shoulder injury. His next tournament will be at @DavisCup

UPDATE: Andy Roddick Memphis Championship Point

Enjoy.

Andy Roddick Dives to Capture 30th Career Title

I will post a highlight of the final point of this match when it becomes available on Youtube. It was that good.

Andy Roddick won his 30th career ATP title Sunday at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships. The match was a seesaw affair with Roddick winning with a final score of 7-6(9-7), 6-7(11-13),7-5.

With the loss, Milos Raonic will advance in the rankings to 37th in the world. Raonic will play next week in Alcapulco, Mexico.

The first set of Sunday's final was a lightning affair of talent. There were no breaks of serve and it went to a  tiebreak. Despite receiving the first two set points, Raonic failed to capitalize on his chances. On Roddick's first set point, he nailed an ace to take the first set 7-6.

The second set started out all Raonic. With an early break Raonic looked to be in command of the second set. Roddick broke right back the next game to level the set at 2-2. There were no further breaks in the second set and proceded to a tie break. The tie break was another seesaw affair and Roddick received four championship points. Raonic was unshakable however and won each of the four match points against him. Raonic took the tiebreak 11-9 and levelled the match at 1-1.

The third and final set started out on serve. Roddick broke first and and got an early 4-1 lead in the set. Raonic looked down and out but won the next three games to tie the game up at 4-4. The match went back and fourth until roddick got his 5th championship point. I could try and describe the finish but I will let youtube do the talking once somebody posts it online. Anyhow, Roddick won the final set with a break of serve. 7-5 in the final set.

Raonic may have lost to the superstar Roddick but Raonic is sure to continue to shine in 2011.

Disappointing First WTA Final for Marino

After an exciting run to the finals this week in Memphis, rising Canadian tennis player Rebecca Marino conceded after playing one set Saturday night. Marino showed flashes of the brilliance that got her to her first final but an abdominal injury held her back from winning more than two games. Magdalena Rybarikova became champion, winning 6-2, ret. 


Congratulations to Rybarikova on her second career WTA victory.

Raonic Advances to Second Straight Final in Memphis

Milos Raonic has been consistently good, and bad, all week. He has played four matches and they have all had familiar stories. First set Raonic, Second set setback, and third set perseverance to come out on top.

This story continued Saturday in Memphis as Raonic defeated tough american Mardy Fish in three sets, 6-4,4-6,6-3.  There was exactly one break of serve in each set, but Raonic was far more efficient in the break point chances he received - leading to his victory today.

Raonic continued his typical powerful service performances with another 20 plus ace masterpiece. Fish only seemed in the match whenever Raonic dropped his level of play. This bodes well for Raonic in the future as he develops as a player who can dictate a match often wins it.

Raonic will play Sunday against the winner of Saturday's second semi-final between Andy Roddick and Juan Martin del Potro.

In other tennis action Saturday in Memphis, Canadian Rebacca Marino will play her first WTA final event at 5pm pacific. Catch the action on SportsNet One in Canada.

Raonic Survives Kendrick

Rising Canadian tennis star Milos Raonic(rank 59) defeated American Robert Kendrick(rank 110) today in a 3 set thriller at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Raonic started out strong jumping ahead with an early break of serve to take the first set without facing a break point.

Raonic faultered in the second set however; dropping serve and appearing marginally flustered. Raonic could not break back late in the second set, despite a good effort to do so. Kendrick showed flashes of brilliance but won the set due to Raonic lowering his game rather than Kendrick finding a higher level. The second set went to Kendrick 3-6. 

Raonic blew out of the gates in the third set by taking the first three games. The change of momentum appeared to surprise Kendrick and he appeared flustered and agitated for the rest of the set. Kendrick could often be seen abusing his racquet or clearly wanting to. Kendrick obtained three chances to even the final set in the 7th game of the set but could not convert; leading to Raonic going up 5-2. Raonic held serve once more to win the final set and the match.

There was some controversy in the final game of the match when Raonic claimed that a linesperson called a ball out - which would have given him the match a point earlier. The chair umpire did not listen to Raonic and gave the point to Kendrick. Raonic responded by serving an ace to win the match. Unfortunately, Raonic then proceded NOT to shake the hand of the chair umpire after shaking Kendrick's hand. An unfortunate blight on an otherwise excellent match. 

Milos Raonic - February 17 - 2011

Milos Raonic continued his exciting start to the 2011 ATP season this week. Today, he defeated Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-7, 7-6. Raonic continued his excellence serving with 38 aces!  Stepanek displayed more skill at the net and in longer rallies.

Click for more information on today's match