{"id":1489,"date":"2012-02-19T21:04:08","date_gmt":"2012-02-20T01:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/milosraonic.ca\/blog\/?p=1489"},"modified":"2012-02-22T17:52:14","modified_gmt":"2012-02-22T21:52:14","slug":"raonic-repeats-as-sap-open-champion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/milosraonic.ca\/blog\/2012\/02\/19\/raonic-repeats-as-sap-open-champion\/","title":{"rendered":"Raonic Repeats as SAP Open Champion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Milos Raonic won the SAP Open<\/a> championship today, defeating Denis Istomin in straight sets, 7-6(3) 6-2. He becomes the first male player to win two titles in 2012, and is the first to win the SAP Open in back to back years since Andy Murray in 2006-2007.<\/h5>\n

The match was almost a replay of yesterday's semi-final between Milos Raonic and Ryan Harrison. The first set was tight with no breaks of serve with Milos winning convincingly in a tiebreak. In the second, Raonic got the early break and eventually broke a again to put the match away. The script was almost exactly the same. The only thing that was different was the person across the net from Raonic.<\/p>\n

Although there were no breaks of serve in the first set, Raonic was utterly dominant in the final. There didn't seem to be any way that Istomin was going to break Milos' serve. Not many players would have been able to do so today. It was just a matter of how long Istomin could hold on to his own serve and stay with Raonic. Just like Harrison the day before, he was only able to it for one set.<\/p>\n

@milosraonic<\/a> accepts his trophy after back-to-back @SAPOpen<\/a> singles championships twitter.com\/SAPOpenTennis\/\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 2012 SAP Open (@SAPOpenTennis) February 20, 2012<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are all sorts of ways to break down the match, but there is a crucial stat that I think tells the story: Raonic was 44\/48 for total service points won. That's right, he lost just four points on his serve throughout the entire match. Take a minute to let that sink in. It boggles the mind. If Istomin was able to string those four points together in one service game, he might have had a chance.<\/p>\n

Not only did Milos win his third ATP Tour title today, but he has also officially become a collector of fine maple syrups. Raonic checked the math and owning more than one bottle of maple syrup means that he has become a collector.<\/p>\n

Team Raonic:<\/strong><\/p>\n

.@MilosRaonic<\/a> poses with #TeamRaonic<\/a>: His father, trainers & manager after winning the #SAPOpen<\/a> twitter.com\/SAPSponsors\/st\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SAP Sponsorships (@SAPSponsors) February 20, 2012<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hope he likes pancakes. Congrats, Milos!<\/p>\n