Milos Raonic – Canada Fan Blog an (unofficial) blog about tennis and Canadian player Milos Raonic

Match Updates Feed – Milos Raonic .vs. Janko Tipsarevic – Final, Aircel Chennai Open, India – 8 Jan 2012

UPDATE: This post was updated play-by-play during the Aircel Chennai Open final in India on 8 Jan 2012.

Here is the official tournament video posted on the chennaiopentennis youtube channel:

The official video from the semi-final win over Almagro is posted at the bottom of this post since it wasn't available when I wrote that one.  I also posted a video I made myself...

Update 6:40 AM Eastern (EST) - 5:10 PM local (Indian Standard Time)

Milos and Janko are warming up on the court right now.  Sportsnet is showing it in Canada online and on SportsNet Pacific, Ontario, East and West.  It doesn't look like they're airing it on the usual SportsNet channel for Tennis, SportsNet ONE (they're playing darts there, much less exciting).  The announcers are doing their usual colourful commentary...  I wish these guys would do all the North American coverage as well instead of the usual ESPN crew.

Raonic just blasted a 225km/h serve to go up 30-15 in the first game of the first set... he then threw a 228km/h (141 mph) serve and Janko to win that first game!  I think the announcer just compared the players to some movie stars...

7AM EST

Raonic just earned his first break point with a blistering forehand past Tipsarevic.  The Serbian brought it back to deuce with an ace but Milos was able to play the angles again to give him a second break point.  Back to deuce again with an ace for Janko, but Milos' forehand brought him back to advantage again... let's see if he can convert a third break point...

7:05 AM EST

Back to deuce again with an ace by Tipsarevic, but he errored with a ball just long after some good running defence by Raonic - an excellent point.  Adv. Raonic. (fourth break point).  This time he gets a look at a second serve instead of an ace, but Tipsarevic forced an error down the opposite line on Raonic.  Deuce.  An error by Raonic on the service return gave Janko adv, and then he hit his fourth ace of the game on the second serve to keep the match on serve at 2-2.  Milos' serve...

7:10 AM EST

Milos just powered through to be up 3-2 (still on serve) at love with amazing power and accuracy on serve and forehands.  Milos is playing at least as well as he did yesterday.  Amazing power tennis from the baseline from Raonic on the base and at the net.

7:17 AM EST

Another tough game on Janko's serve.  Tipsarevic is up 40-30 due to 2 very slight errors by Raonic - if they'd gone the other way we'd be up a break!  A perfectly placed forehand in the corner just gave us another deuce before Tipsarevic put it down the line for adv.  What was probably Milos' best combination of pace and angle, Milos has brought it back to deuce until a netcord from Janko threw off the point in Tipsarevic's favour for adv again.  Back to deuce again on a slightly long shot by Tipsarevic, followed up with a great serve out wide to give him game point again, which he converted with a nice shot down the line.  Milos continues to make Tipsarevic's service games difficult.  3-3 in the first set.

7:20 AM EST

Another hold at love for Raonic to make it 4-3... incredible play from our Canadian against the top seed.

7:26 AM EST

On serve still, Tipsarevic seems to be dazzled by Milos' power.  An ace and another 3 shot rally has Milos up 30-0, but this time a second serve allowed a return winner by Tipsarevic by using the pace (the second serve was 201km/h - about 215 mph!).  The resistance was short-lived though, as Milos quickly put away the next two points to make it 5-4 and forcing Tipsarevic to serve to stay in the first set.

 7:32 AM EST

A couple of forehand errors by Raonic has given Tipsarevic a 40-15 lead in the set, but a perfectly placed shot right on the baseline brought it a bit closer at 40-30 for Tipsarevic.  Another error, this time on the backhand, gave Tipsarevic the game to keep it even at 5-5.

7:33 AM EST

Milos served up 4 aces in the following game.  Tipsarevic only got close to one of them..........  6-5, Raonic leads with a chance to break to take the first set.

7:37 AM EST

Finally having an easy serving game, Tipsarevic holds at love to force the tiebreak.

7:40 AM EST

Milos serves first and holds in the tiebreak with powerful ground strokes.  And Tipsarevic answered with a few of his own great shots to keep the tiebreak even at 2-1 (on serve).  At 215 km/h serve went through Janko's racket to make it 2-2, and then the linesman called a ball out that, on further review from Milos' challenge, actually caught the line.  He had been on second serve but now gets his first serve back.

 7:45 AM EST

On the change of ends, the tiebreak was still on serve at 3-3.  Tipsarevic got the first mini-break on a well played point by Raonic which ended in an error at the net.  Raonic won his second service point however, and Tipsarevic serves up 5-4.

7:47 AM EST

Janko earned a set point and converted on an error into the net by Raonic to win the first set at about 1 hour into the match.  Milos was seemingly dominating the match until the last 5 minutes of the that set and tiebreak - bummer.

 7:52 AM EST

Raonic earned two break points in the first game of the second set.  Janko saved the first on a forehand out wide, and another good forehand forced an error from Milos to save his sixth break point to bring it back to deuce.  He was able to hold on to the momentum and hold his serve.  This next game will be key to see how Milos reacts to being so close so many times and not being able to convert...  Here are the stats from the first set.  They show a fairly close match, but it seemed to lean more toward Milos for most of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7:56 AM EST

He answered by holding at love.

8:05AM EST

Tipsarevic held his next service game and Milos answered by holding his own quite comfortably.

8:10AM EST

Tipsarevic missed a forehand and a backhand to be down 0-30 yet again to Milos...  let's see if he can convert to a break this time...  Second serve, and Milos slightly overplayed an angled backhand at the net.  Another successful challenge by Raonic forced a replay and first serve again for Tipsarevic.  This ball caught more of the line than the last one that was called out mistakenly at that line...  back to 30-30 after a good volley play by Tipsarevic.  An error into the net gave Tipsarevic game point and an ace put it away to make it 3-2 on serve in the second set.

8:15

Raonic was at the losing end of a couple of correct challenges and found himself at 40-15 after an ace and a few nice forehands.  He put away the game with a drop-shot that Tipsarevic was able to get to but was unable to handle.  3-3 in the second set.

8:20

Raonic used some great net play to be up 15-30 on Tipsarevic's fourth service game of the set.  Some more great strategic tennis earned him 2 more break points.  Second serve...  Milos sent his first return slightly long.  One more break point...  Another second serve, and going for the angle out wide he hit the net and lost his 8th break point of the match.

8:22

Tipsarevic barely held on but he was able to pull out the game - making it 4-3, still on serve.

8:28

Milos started with an ace but missed a drop volley to make it 15-15.  An error by Milos gave Tipsarevic the first real sign of a chance at 15-30.  A good return from Tipsarevic's backhand forced another error, and he earned his first two break points.  An ace ruined the first one down the middle at 212 km/h, and the next first serve went long, but some powerful play allowed Milos to slam an overhead volley and earn deuce.  Tipsarevic sent his next return into the net, but Milos then sent one slightly wide.  With another ace, Milos earned another game point.  An another second serve the rally ended on an error by Tipsarevic.  4-4.

8:33

A couple of errors on returns into the net gave Tipsarevic 2 game points, but an awesome passing shot got rid of the first one but a return into the net by Milos put Tipsarevic up 5-4, still on serve, as he received treatment on what is apparently his leg, knee, or ankle as we went to the break...

8:38

Looks like it was just a re-wrap on his ankle.  Serving to stay in match, the pressure is on Raonic here.  The first point went Milos' way as Tipsarevic touched the net cord for it to land on his side.  An ace followed that up out wide at 205 km/h.  Another ace out wide and another down the middle... wow.  Another hold at love for Milos. 5-5, 2nd set.

8:41

Some frustration seemed to be setting in for Milos, as Tipsarevic was up 40-0 before an amazing point painting all the lines gave him a hold at love.  6-5 for Tipsarevic - still on serve but Milos must hold to stay in it.

8:48

Milos sent the first point into the net on an error.  An unplayable serve from Milos in the next point.  And another at 215 km/h, he's still able to deal with the pressure.  A forehand was slightly long though on the next rally.  30-30.  Milos punished a number of forehands with Tipsarevic screaming around the court to return them, finally ending to give Milos the game point to force another tiebreak with another 1 hour set to force yet another tiebreak.  A challenge on his first serve made him play a second serve, on which Milos got a bit too ambitious on the net allowing Tipsarevic to put it past him.  Another ace gave him adv. again, and he put away an unplayable serve to force a tiebreak to decide the second set.

8:49

Milos got the first mini-break on Tipsarevic's first serve.  But he errored on a forehand into the net to give it right back.  The speed of the next serve beat Tipsarevic though, as he was unable to return it off the frame and we're still on serve in the second set tiebreak.

8:51

Tipsarevic did send a ball wide down the line to give back the mini-break.  Some blistering forehands from Milos eventually caused an error into the net for Tipsarevic - he's up two mini-breaks.  He's now not only winning more points, but finally winning the important break opportunity points!

8:54

Milos did send one just long, but forced a high return from Tipsarevic on his serve and smashed the forehand perfectly to put the pressure on Tipsarevic at 5-2.

8:57

Tipsarevic won his first service point on the eventual error by Milos in a long rally of backhands.  Milos hit an awesome return on the line though to put him up another break and giving him 3 set points.  He sent the first one into the net.  An ace on the next serve at about 2hours and 10 minutes into the match evened it out at a set a piece.  24 aces for Raonic in the match (so far.....).  Second set stats:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9:01

Some amazing swordsmanship by Raonic puts him up 30-15 - both players are showing their determination to win the match and the tournament in this first game of the third set.

9:05

An error into the net gave Tipsarevic a break point, but Milos brought it to deuce by forcing an error with a forehand.  He did put a shot wide but brought it back to deuce with an ace.  He earned advantage with some more aggressive play and put the first game of the third set away with an unplayable serve.

9:09 AM EST - 2hr 24min match time

Janko's first serve in the second set hit the netcord and bounced out, but his 2ns serve forced the error on Milos.  Raonic then forced one back with a cross-court forehand with Janko sending it just long down the line trying to pass Raonic.  Another ace made it 30-15 but Milos answered with a backhand winner down the line, a shot that'd been giving him trouble until now.  A couple of errors allowed Tipsarevic to hang on to make it 1-1 in the third set.

9:12

Raonic powered through the next game, holding at love.

9:18

Janko sent his first serve wide, but Milos sent one long on the second serve.  The first double-fault of the match followed though, to make it 15-15.  Some errors from Raonic saw him go down 40-15, but lit up a backhand return that was unplayable to pass Tipsarevic. 40-30.  Milos chased down a few to hit an amazing backhand right on the line - amazing.  Deuce.

9:19

With some great play again, Milos earned himself a chance at the net but put what should have been the last volley into the net.  Milos sent the next one long and Janko survives another service game.

9:22

Milos hit a second serve at 189 km/h for an ace to make it 30-0.  He powered through the rest of the game to hold at love yet again.  at 2 and half hours into the match, neither player shows signs of slowing down.  Truly a thrilling match thus far!

9:27

A few awesome points from Raonic on Tipsarevic's serve give Milos a chance at 0-30.  An error into the net on a big forehand attempt made it 15-30, with Milos still up on Janko's service game.  An unreturnable serve made the score 30-30, as Tipsarevic saves himself from another defecit on his serve and hangs on to win the game.

9:30

Milos won a quick 2 points, before an ace disappeared on a challenge and he quickly erred twice to put it back to 30-30.  An ace out wide and one down the line put him up 4-3 (on serve) in the final set.  7 aces so far in the third set with his serves (1st and 2nd) showing no signs of slowing.

9:36

Tipsarevic started the next game with another double fault, probably a result of the long game and the pressure catching up to him a bit - he has shown amazing fitness and composure with all the powershots from Milos and many situations where he had to come back from a deficit.  Milos earns another break point with a powerful forehand to make it 30-40 at 4-3 in the 3rd set.  It's a 2nd serve and an excellent point eventually ended with an overhead smash from Tipsarevic bringing him back to deuce.

9:37

Milos was not able to return the next serve from the top-seeded Serbian, but he put the next shot into the net to make it 4-4 in the final set.

9:41

Milos, still showing amazing skill in the face of the top-seeded Tipsarevic, won the game giving up just one point to the Serbian.

9:45

At almost 3 hours into the match Tipsarevic is serving to stay in the match.  The first point saw a forehand from Milos go long, and the next return also went slightly long.  30-0 for Tipsarevic on his serve.  He forced an error on the next serve to go up 40-0 and another error from Milos evened it up at 5-5.  Both players still hotly contesting the match in what's about to be the third hour.  I'm still waiting for a chance to blink here...  Another ace on Milos' first serve, and a forced error on the return of the next one.  30-0 for Milos in the 11th game.  Two very close faults gave him his first double fault of the match at the 3 hour mark.

9:47

Still not thrown off, he served an unplayable rocket at 191 km/h on his SECOND serve in the next point down the middle, and went on to win the game to make it 6-5 and to force Tipsarevic to serve to stay in the match and force a deciding tie-break.

9:50

Still on his game, Tipsarevic started his last service game with two points won. 30-0.  Forcing another error, he went up 40-0.  He made an error on the next point though, 40-15.  Milos sent one wide and yes, we are going to the third set tie-break.

9:53

Serving first in the tie-break, Milos sent his first serve home for an ace.  The Serbian went a little wide on a forehand in the next point, giving Milos a mini-break.  Another error on a forehand gave Milos a second mini-break!  This could not be going better for Milos - looks like that determination and composure of the last few hours will pay off.

9:55

A second serve at 194 km/h put him on top of the next rally, and an unreturnable serve put Raonic up 5-0.  An ambitious runaround to hit a serve on his forehand just missed and gave Tipsarevic his first point of the tie-break.  5-1 for Milos with another serve on the way from Janko, which he put away with a good rally and an amazing backhand to make it 5-2.

9:58

A smash of a serve and subsequent powerful forehand  put the next point away.  A fault on the next serve, and a challenge on Janko's shot just barely, by a couple mms, caught the baseline, made it 6-3 for Milos and two more serves from Tipsarevic.

9:59

MILOS WINS!  The 2012 Aircel Chennai Open final is over as Milos wins on an error into the net by Tipsarevic.

10:01

Milos throws his shoes into the stands for the Indian fans - although, as the commentator mentions, they are probably too big for a vast majority of them!  What an amazing match from Milos - 35 aces, about half of his aces from the entire tournament came in this match...  enjoy the match facts below : ).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE: Here is the video from the semi-final with Nico Almagro that's also recently been posted on the same channel:

There is some footage that wasn't shown in the official video of the final win, I'm going to see if I can find it somewhere and get it posted up here.

UPDATE 2 : Here is a video I made myself, it's got a little bit extra from the SportsNet rebroadcast last night.  It has some scenes that weren't shown on SportsNet's original broadcast and not on the tournament's official YouTube release.  I've left the ads/commercials in so hopefully nobody gets mad about the copyright infringement!

You might have to press play and then pause to let it load for a while.  If you find this slow, you can download it yourself and play it later at this link:  http://www.milosraonic.ca/vid/00000.MTS.mp4

--wacb