Paris 1000
[Oct.26] Draw is out: Milos has a bye first round, second round J.Chardy (or a qualifier), third round looks like N.Djokovic. I expect that Milos will rise to the challenge and show us his best tennis. Good luck, Milos, in this last Masters event of 2012.
[Oct.30] Milos v J.Chardy scheduled on Centre Court tomorrow "not before" 8:30pm Paris time (12:30 PT, 3:30 ET).
[Nov.1] Milos had to work hard yesterday for a three-set victory over Chardy, then today met Sam Querrey, fresh off a win yesterday over top-seed Djokovic. Apparently still on a roll, Querrey defeated Milos 63 76(1). Querrey will play M.Llodra in QF.
So Milos will end the 2012 season ranked 13th, top player from North America, poised to crack top-ten in 2013. A great year!
Valencia 500
Milos, 8th seed, has drawn to Tipsarevic’s quarter, Tsonga’s half. His “on paper” path to the Final is 1) G.Muller (#81) 2) A.Dolgopolov (#21) 3) J.Tipsarevic (#9) 5) JW.Tsonga (#8) 6) D.Ferrer (#5).
Have you voted yet?? http://www.atpworldtour.com/Fans/ATP-Awards/Fans-Favorite-Voting-2012.aspx <<
[Oct.23] Milos plays Gilles Muller (ATP#81) second-up on "Agora" (Centre Court) tomorrow at about 2pm (9am ET, 6am PT). It looks like it will not be on Canadian TV -- post a comment if you see it's available! "In other news" both Tipsarevic and Tsonga withdrew due to injuries; this changes Milos' "on paper" path to the Final to: 1) G.Muller (#81) 2) A.Dolgopolov (#21) 3) G.Simon (#17) 5) J.Isner (#14) 6) D.Ferrer (#5). Obviously neither Simon nor Isner would be pushovers, but Milos' odds of making to the Final have just improved somewhat. Good luck tomorrow, Milos!
[Oct.24] Disappointing loss today, to Muller. This is the tenth time Milos has been upset this year; however, he has more than made up (points, at least) by himself upsetting higher-ranked players eight times, including twice each Almgaro, Tipsarevic and Murray.
Shanghai 1000
[Oct.8] Milos is scheduled to take on Marinko Matesevic (ATP#60) of Australia on Centre Court, Tuesday about 4pm Shanghai-time (1am PT, 4am ET) following the Isner v Anderson match. Matesevic was the top-seeded qualifier, and has played some good tennis this year, on-and-off; notably upsetting Richard Gasquet to make QF at Eastbourne. But Milos will be the 4-1 betting favourite tomorrow.
Milos' "on paper" likely path to the finals (note a couple of significant speed-bumps): 1) M.Matesevic #60 2) M.Baghdatis #36 3) J.W.Tsonga #6 4) T.Berdych #7 5) N. Djokovic #2 6) R. Federer #1 [With upsets, also possible: 2) F. Fognini #45 4) K. Nishikori #15.]
Rankings: Milos is now up to #14 in the ATP rankings, only 35 points behind R.Gasquet, 25 points ahead of K.Nishikori; a par performance in Shanghai should keep him #14. In the "ATP Race" things are a little more interesting: Milos is currently #13, only 170 points below #10 Almagro, who was just upset in round one. So that #10 spot is now up for grabs, in reach of (in order) Gasquet, Monaco and Milos.
UPDATE [Oct.9] Raonic d Matesevic 76(4) 63 -- Milos somewhat uninspired, but mostly in control, except for the eighth game of the first set which he "donated" via two shanks and two double-faults. Next up: Milos v M.Baghdatis on the Union Pay Court (so probably not televised?) at 11pm PT; 2am ET. Odds: Milos at 2.5 to 1. The ATP Race continues to move in the correct direction: Monaco's upset in R32 leaves Gasquet and Milos (in that order) going after Almagro's #10 spot. Milos needs the win tonight to pass Monaco, so lots on the line. Go Milos!!
UPDATE [Oct.10] In the second round, Milos lost to Marcos Baghdatis in a tough, long (2:40) match: 3 tie-breaks 67(4) 76(5) 67(3). Milos played well, but Marcos had an exceptional day, especially with his first serve, on which Milos was able to pick up only 7 points out of 55 (13%); meanwhile Marcos won points on 25% of Milo's first serves. The third set was illustrative: Milos' serve let him down a bit, with only 51% of 1st serves in, and only 1 ace vs 4 aces from Marcos. Meanwhile Milos picked up only 6 return points, half as many as Marcos. Combined, that probably cost him the break, and thus set and match.
Full credit to Baghdatis for the win; no discredit to Milos. Interestingly, Gasquet was also upset (by Stepanek) so neither he nor Milos (nor Monaco) will displace Almagro from #10 in the Race rankings. Next up for Milos: the Valencia 500, starting Oct. 21.
View from Dustin Pollock: >> http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/milos-raonic-falls-shanghai-masters-future-still-looks-171329626.html <<
Milos Raonic to appear on “This Hour has 22 Minutes” this week!!!
I have it on good authority that Canada's favorite tennis player, Milos Raonic, will appear on my favorite show, This Hour has 22 Minutes, when they air this week's show on their usual Tuesday night time slot on Tuesday, October 9th, at 8:30 PM on CBC TV (9 o'clock in Newfoundland!). They are directly following Rick Mercer's popular comedy half-hour on CBC.
Here's a preview pic... Looks like they taped it in Montréal during the Davis Cup matches there several weeks ago. I should be able to get my hands on a preview video soon and I'll post it ASAP...
UPDATE!!! here's the video...
--WACB
@milosraonic will be on @22_minutes, my fav show, on Tues on CBC at 8:30pm (9 in NL) goo.gl/Nctxf #TeamRaonic @tennis_canada #Raonic
— MilosRaonic Fan Blog (@MilosRaonicBlog) October 8, 2012
Tokyo 500
[Oct. 5 - 3pm] Milos Raonic v Andy Murray SF will apparently be on Sportsnet One this evening (despite what schedule may say) at approx 8pm PDT (11pm EDT). Milos comes off a tight 3-set QF win over ATP#9 Janko Tipsarevic. Since Milos has already exceeded expectations by reaching the semi-finals, there should be NO PRESSURE for his match against Andy. http://www.sportsnet.ca/tennis/2012/10/05/milos_raonic_andy_murray_tokyio_open_preview/
[Oct. 6] UPDATE -- Stunning victory for Milos over Andy Murray 63 67(5) 76(4). Fast out of the blocks, Milos broke Murray in the first game, consolidated, broke a second time, and cruised to a first-set win, having to save only one break point. In the second set Andy had three break points to save, Milos none; but Andy went on to take the tight tie-break. Third set looked to be over early with Andy up 4-1, but Milos broke back to get back on serve, saved two match points serving 5-6, then powered through the tie-break to win the match in style. Not just a pretty face, Milos is no longer just "the big-serving Canadian" -- he showed he's got the game to back up his serve, with return stats this time better than Andy Murray, one of the best returners in tennis. >> http://youtu.be/U3sbPxTYYEs <<
Next up: the Final, tonight (on Sportsnet One at 10pm PT; 1am ET) Milos v. home-favourite Kei Nishikori, ATP#17. Another late night, but worth it! >> http://www.whosay.com/milosraonic/photos/232696 <<
Shanghai Preview: draw is out, with Milos in Tsonga's eighth, Berdych's quarter, Djokovic's half.