Raonic loses to Benneteau in Paris « Milos Raonic

7Nov/11Off

Raonic loses to Benneteau in Paris

Julien Benneteau (FRA) defeated Milos Raonic (CAN) in an epic three set match at the BNP Paribas Masters today, 6(5)-7 7-6(5) 6-4.

Benneteau was having to play more points on his serve compared to Raonic, but he only faced one break point during the opening set. Raonic was having a much easier time on serve ultimately resulting in the set being decided by a tiebreak. With Benneteau serving at 4-5, he made a costly error to give Raonic the mini-break advantage. Milos didn't mess around and closed out the set on his first chance to serve for it. The Canadian was nearly perfect on his first serve points won during the set, but only hit half as many aces as his opponent.

Raonic started the second set with a blistering service game, doubling his ace count from three to six. In his next service game, Milos took the lead in the ace race after hitting two in a row to comfortably hold serve. Benneteau got to deuce on Raonic's third service game but wasn't able to earn a break chance. Milos returned the favour in the next game, but again the server held without having to face a break point. Serving to stay in the set, Raonic opened the game with two more aces bringing the total to 13 for the match. However, Benneteau was able to take advantage of some miscues from Milos to get to deuce. Raonic regained his concentration and quickly served his way out of trouble to force another tiebreak. This time it would be Benneteau who got the first mini-break courtesy of an error from Raonic. After giving up another error, Milos came up with a great return of serve to get a mini-break back. But Raonic was still trailing with Benneteau serving at 6-5 and he wasn't able to get back on even terms. The French fans let out a huge roar when Raonic put a ball into the net, thus giving the tiebreak to Benneteau. This one was going the distance and all of the momentum was with Benneteau.

It was clear from the start that Raonic wasn't letting up on his serve. He hit four aces and didn't lose a single point during his first two service games of the third set. Unfortunately his third service game was a different story. Benneteau quickly found himself with a 0-40 lead and his first break points of the match. Raonic saved the first two, only to send a forehand long and surrender the first break of serve of the contest. Benneteau consolidated the break to take a 4-2 lead. If the previous two hours of match play were any indication, we would expect both players to continue to hold serve until Raonic ran out of opportunities to break. That's exactly what happened as Benneteau was just too solid on his serve and didn't afford Raonic any chances to get back into the match.

Since coming back from the hip surgery, Milos had not lost to a player ranked lower than him until today. With the loss to Benneteau, Raonic's season has come to an end. The first round upset is a bit of a disappointment, but full credit goes to Benneteau for playing a terrific match coming back from a set down. This match turned on a few key points, and Julien was able to come out on top of them more often than Milos. Both players were remarkably consistent on serve, but Benneteau raised his game at just the right time to get the break in the third set. This was just after Raonic had gotten to deuce on Benneteau's previous service game. It was an incredibly tense match that lasted over two hours and 20 minutes. Benneteau was the better player today, but not by much.

Better luck next year, Milos. I can't wait for the 2012 season! Of course, there are still the tour finals in London and the Davis Cup final later this month but we've seen the last of Raonic on the ATP tour for the year. It certainly has been a great season stretching all the way back to the Round of 16 result at the Australian Open, and we look forward to following Milos in the new year.

Cheers!

-multi

Posted by multiformous

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Robert
November 19th, 2011 - 12:03

ATP AWARD / NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR : MILOS RAONIC !!! Congratulations Milos ! ATP has this comment : “Milos Raonic: The 20-year-old jumped from No. 156 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings at the start of the season to No. 31 on 14 November 2011. After compiling a 4-6 match record in 2010, he went 31-19 in his first full season on the ATP World Tour. He became the first Canadian to claim a tour-level title in 16 years, winning San Jose without dropping a set (d. Verdasco), and the following week reached the final in Memphis (l. to Roddick).” Canada may be proud !
Robert
November 18th, 2011 - 04:51

So moving to have a comment of the match between Sampras and Raonic, (father and son, in many ways). And Sampras obviously loves the kid ! He sees his future bright, if he keeps working hard. His weapon is his serve which is tremendous. Sampras says : ““He’s got a monster serve. He serves harder than Andre (Agassi) does … when he can serve 135, 140 m.p.h. on the line and really pick your spots, that’s a pretty good weapon to have. So he’s on his way.” But he adds :” “Don’t expect him to win Wimbledon next year. He can do it, but it’s going to take some time. Let’s be patient here. Let’s not put too much pressure on the kid. He’s got a great game and a great future.” Raonic won in two sets : 7-6, 6-1, but Sampras is 40 years of age. A great incentive for Milos, and such an emotional meeting, I would have thought. Go Milos ! Thank you, Pete ! (full report : http://www.canada.com/sports/tennis/Raonic+serves+Sampras+look+potential/5729287/story.html).
Robert
November 16th, 2011 - 04:27

Davis Cup : February 10th-12th, Vancouver, West Coast ! Good luck to all !
- multiformous
  November 16th, 2011 - 13:26
  
  I saw the announcement the other day. can’t wait!
Robert
November 16th, 2011 - 04:19

A good Milos Raonic’s interview in the Toronto Star post on the net. He talks of his next match with Sampras tomorrow with an estimated 6.000 crowd. So happy for Milos : it’s going to be great playing the tennis champion he admires the most in the world (and so do I, I must say). Then 6 weeks training with his coach in Barcelona. His objective : top 10 next year ! Go Milos ! So much with you !!!
Robert
November 8th, 2011 - 09:21

You can find a good post match interview of Milos on : http://www.amerique24.com/Bercy-Raonic-decu-de-sa-performance_a1014.html
It is in French. He’s got a really good understanding on his present results and what could be improve. You also find three extracts of Raonic’s match at the Paris Open on You Tube. A good news for his family, friends and Canadian fans : he is flying back home ! I hope the blog will give some news of the match with Sampras and the preparation of Davis Cup (it will be in a hockey stadium, very Canadianlike !!!) .
Tom
November 7th, 2011 - 17:55

Thanks for the detailed game-by-game report: much appreciated by those of us who cannot fly to Paris at this time of year! Benneteau’s after-match comment: “I could have lost that match,” said Benneteau.. “I would have lost it six months ago. I was impressed by his forehand, especially after his serve. However, he’s not that great with his returns. He doesn’t return very often. He’s a lot better when he’s serving than on his return games.”
- Robert
  November 7th, 2011 - 18:59
  
  From what I see and there are good highlights on You Tube (for once), Benneteau is right : his serving games are much better than his return games. Now what I don’t know is if it was any better before the hip surgery, I mean at the Australian Open, San José and Memphis, which would mean he has not yet fully recovered. He doesn’t seem to suffer from the aftermath of his surgery anymore and says he is better in coordination. But may be he’s got yet to recover and has still a certain lack of competition. Anyway I really hope Milos will in perfect shape in the coming year, still rising to the top !
Chris Brake
November 7th, 2011 - 17:10

#Raonic loses to #Benneteau in Paris « Milos Raonic – Canada Fan Blog: http://t.co/8yAP9JgS via @AddThis #TeamRaonic
Robert
November 7th, 2011 - 13:23

Thank you for a report always so accurate. I feel sorry for Milos who could have expected going to a second round. As you say, the margin in between the two players was very small and Milos, as always, served beautifully well. The year is not really finished as there is the exhibition match with Pete Sampras, an event which he is certainly striving for. I hope many Canadians will come, watch and support your young champion (a little jealous for that). As a Frenchman, I apologise for the crowd roar for a Raonic’s ball that went in the net. Unfortunately French crowds can be very rude and chauvinistic. I would like to ask two questions :
1. Do you feel Milos has fully recovered now from his hip surgery and has got the same level as he had before ?
2. Do you think he really needs to work more on his returns ?
Thank you for everything and good luck to Milos in the future.
- multiformous
  November 7th, 2011 - 14:09
  
  Merci beaucoup for reading! I was referring to the competitive season being over for Raonic as there are no more ATP tournaments for him this year, which is true for all but the 8 players who qualify for London.
  
  Also, no need to apologize for the crowd. My comment about them cheering after Raonic made an error was just to show how the crowd was rallying behind Benneteau. I didn’t perceive it as disrespectful or rude, lots of crowds cheer errors — especially after the home nation player has just won a set!
  
  I’d say Raonic has physically recovered from the injury and surgery. And judging from the Stockholm performance, his game has almost certainly recovered fully as well. The key will be working on the confidence levels in the off season where he’ll have plenty of time to train and be completely sure there are no lasting effects from the surgery.
  
  As for the return of serve, there could always be improvement. Being a tall guy, he doesn’t want to get into extended rallies where he has to do a lot of running. He can’t play like Nadal or Ferrer, or even like Djokovic when he is flying around the court and stretching like a rubber band. Instead, he should try to be more like Federer or Murray and do more damage on the return of serve by taking the ball early and creating openings earlier in the point.
  
  Of course, that’s always easier said than done. When you start taking chances you open up the possibility for more errors.
  - Robert
    November 7th, 2011 - 19:09
    
    Thank you for the reply. I agree having for Milos a good return, as Federer and Murray have, is a key to his further success and, of course, confidence. I don’t really like Nadal’s style anyway. As for the crowd, I still think they should not cheer on errors, as when the the ball goes in the net. They don’t do it at Wimbledon and they did it nowhere in the past. Am I so old fashioned ? Be that as it may, at least one Frenchman was cheering for Raonic, and probably more ! Hope the match with Sampras will be a great success for both of them and Canadian fans.