Berdych had trouble serving the 1st and 3rd game, going to 0-30 in both right
\noff the start. \u00a0Some errors and poor serving contributed to that.
\nBerdych was able to come back in both games though. \u00a0Milos took care
\nof his serve quite easily in between.<\/p>\n
Milos' 2nd service game was even more concincing than his first. \u00a0He
\nsped to 40-0, drawing an error from Berdych on a second serve to get
\nto 15-0, then a forehand winner and another error from Berdych to get
\ngame point. \u00a0Berdych sent another return of serve long to even it up
\nat 2-2. \u00a0So far, Milos is by far the better player, as Berdych has a
\nshakey start to the match. \u00a0Milos didn't even have to make a 1st serve
\nto win that game at love...<\/p>\n
Next game, Berdych put in a couple of errors on the forehand again,
\nallowing Raonic to get to 30-30. \u00a0Raonic then sent a forehand flying
\nhigh off the edge of the racquet, followed by another error on an
\nattempt to throw a backhand down the line. \u00a03-2 for Berdych, on serve.<\/p>\n
The next three service games went quickly in the servers' favour. \u00a04-4.<\/p>\n
Berdych got his first point in the next game on a passing shot down
\nthe line. \u00a0It looked like Raonic thought it'd go wide, but it caught
\nthe back of the line. \u00a0Berdych tried to do it again, this time he did
\nsend it about a foot long, and Milos let it go appropriately. \u00a0Some
\nmore aggressive play by Raonic forced Berdych into the net on a
\nforehand. \u00a0In general, up to this point, Raonic looks to be more
\naggressive, which has been helping him. \u00a0A bad call by the line judge
\nbrought it back to 30-30 though, not sure what the ump said, but I
\nthink he just didn't say anything. \u00a0It's a shame, you could almost see
\nin the line judges face that she knew she made a mistake, but it was
\ntoo late. \u00a0An awesome defensive shot followed by an amazing run across
\nthe court for a passing shot down the line gave Raonic break point,
\nbefore outlasting Berdych in a baseline rally, which Berdych sending a
\nforehand into the net. 5-4 Raonic, up a break, ready to serve out the
\nset!<\/p>\n
Raonic went up 15-0, but then put a routine forehand into the net,
\nperhaps to create suspense as he's done in the final game of many sets
\nrecently I've noticed. \u00a0He did it again though, down 15-30... \u00a0But
\nthen, like so many times before, an ace down the line when he needed
\nit most gets him out of trouble. \u00a030-30. \u00a0Powering through Berdych on
\na baseline rally side to side, the next two points went Raonic's way.<\/p>\n
1st set to Milos Raonic.<\/p>\n
Berdych won his service game to start, but not terribly easily.<\/p>\n
Milos returned the favour though, going down 0-30 to start his first
\nservice game of the set. \u00a0A forehand off the tape and out made it
\n0-40, and we can really use one of those aces... \u00a0First serve went
\ninto the net, then an aggressive approach on the net following a shot
\nthat wasn't really good enough to do so. \u00a0Berdych put a shot across
\nthe court in front of Milos as he scrambled to cover the line...
\nBerdych up a break. \u00a0A quick, easy hold to follow consolidated.
\nMilos' forehands are not doing him well now. \u00a03-0 Berdych, Milos to
\nserve.<\/p>\n
Milos went down quickly again, looking shakey and unsure.
\nUnfortunately for us Milos fans, Berdych has \"rediscovered his Mojo\"
\nand has triple break point very quickly. \u00a0An error from Berdych saves
\nthe first one, a couple of powerful serves forcing defensive shots
\nwhich were easily pounded away saved the next two. \u00a0An ace gave hom
\nadv, then he pounded another serve down the middle which Berdych was
\nunable to keep in the court on the return. \u00a0How quickly can momentum
\nchange in a match! \u00a0Milos shows us that amazing competitive spirit and
\ncomposure to rally for being down 0-40 in that one!<\/p>\n
Still up a break, Berdych serves at 3-1. \u00a0They split the first 2
\npoints, but Milos wasn't able to put a few shots where he wanted them.
\nBerdych won the game almost completely on unforced errors by Raonic.
\nUnforced errors from his racquet almost cost him the game too though,
\nit was a close game. \u00a0Still down a break, Milos serves at 1-4.<\/p>\n
Pushing Berdych side to side, Raonic draws an error on the first
\npoint. \u00a0A 2nd serve ace gave him the next point. \u00a0Then a first serve
\nace followed by ANOTHER 2nd serve ace put away the game.<\/p>\n
Berdych serving, up 4-2. \u00a015-0 for Berdych, and the chair ump was able
\nto muster up the courage for an over-rule, they replayed the point and
\nBerdych went up 30-15. \u00a0Raonic put a rtn of 2nd serve into the net,
\nBerdych up 40-0. \u00a0An error (barely wide) by Berdych gave Milos his
\nfirst point of the game, but he sent the next rtn of serve long, 5-2
\nBerdych.<\/p>\n
It started out as a routine hold, up 30-0 on an ace and an
\nunreturnable serve... but somehow Milos lost his \"mojo\" and Berdych's
\ncame back again... \u00a0Raonic put one into the net, unforced, then
\nBerdych hit an amazing forehand winner across the court from his
\nforehand. \u00a0Berdych got break point on a forehand sent wide by Raonic,
\nand Milos double-faulted away the set.<\/p>\n
Berdych won the first game of the 3rd set in routine fashion. \u00a0It
\nlooked as if Berdych had his second (third?) wind. \u00a0Milos has his work
\ncut out for him in this set for sure. \u00a0He will need to play at his top
\nlevel to keep up with Berdych playing like that.<\/p>\n
Next game: Milos draws an error from Berdych, who sends a forehand
\nwide. \u00a0Next: a serve that Berdych got a racquet on, but couldn't put
\nit in the right direction. \u00a0Raonic made a statement with his next
\nserve as well, a clean ace. \u00a0A dbl fault followed (though both looked
\nvery close to me!); not to worry, a big ace out wide put the game
\naway. 1-1.<\/p>\n
Berdych put his first point into the net, completely unforced, but
\nfacing Raonic who was charging for the net. \u00a0He dbl faulted again,
\ngiving Milos an opportunity at 0-30. \u00a0His next 2nd serve was very slow
\nthough, perhaps that was the cause of Milos' forehand going long.
\nAnother unforced error, this time on a clumsy backhand near the net,
\ngave Milos dbl brk point. \u00a0The first rtn of serve went long, but some
\nawesome rallying on the baseline from Raonic, forcing a defensive lob
\nfrom Berdych to the back of the court, gave Milos an opportunity to
\nsmash... \u00a0Berdych didn't have a chance on the powerful shot to the
\ncorner from Milos. \u00a0First break of the 3rd set goes our way!<\/p>\n
Wow. \u00a0A quick hold at love, no rallies required, puts Milos up a
\nseemingly solid 3-1. \u00a0I hope Stan Wawrinka is watching this! \u00a0The way
\nMilos has out-powered Berdych for most of the match must be
\nintimidating...<\/p>\n
The next game was tricky. \u00a0Berdych seemed off to a good start, showing
\nMilos that he too could hit aces, and Milos put a couple of forehands
\nlong. \u00a040-0 for Berdych on his serve. \u00a0But here's the tricky part:
\nMilos answered with a passing forehand as Berdych moved toward the net
\non the next point, he made a great move to the net on the next point,
\nbeating Berdych again, forcing an error, and Berdych's second serve
\nwas sent whizzing by him to go to deuce. \u00a0Berdych sent a backhand wide
\non the next point, giving adv. To Raonic. \u00a0A well placed serve down
\nthe line that Milos wasn't able to return brought it back to deuce,
\nbut Milos won the next point on a long forehand from Berdych. \u00a0He
\nsaved that break point with another ace (2 of Berdych's 4 aces so far
\nhit in this game). \u00a0Berdych won the next rally coming into the net,
\nand Milos put a backhand long and Berdych escapes... \u00a0Milos to serve,
\nstill up a break.<\/p>\n
Next hold was easy for Milos, and he then got up to triple break point
\nagainst Berdych, including a dbl fault. \u00a0He aced the first brk point
\naway, and another 2nd serve that he slowed down considerably beat
\nRaonic again, with an error into the net on the return of serve.
\nBerdych then made a mess of a seemingly easy volley with Milos at the
\nback of the court, not making it over. \u00a0Milos up another break. \u00a05-2
\nwith an opportunity to serve it out. \u00a0Milos let out a little yell when
\nhe got that break, a rare but welcome show of emotion during the
\nmatch. \u00a0Surely this match is all put away now!<\/p>\n
A SECOND SERVE ACE gave Milos the first point, a blazing first serve
\nace gave him the second one. \u00a030-0. \u00a0He sent a forehand just wide on
\nthe next rally though, but followed up with an ace down the line, 20
\nACES so far. \u00a0Another blazing serve that Berdych couldn't return gave
\nhime the match. \u00a0Wow!<\/p>\n
If anyone didn't think Milos deserved to be in the QF last week in Toronto, after getting a walkover from Andy Murray, I think they've just been silenced!\u00a0 Milos put in a solid performance, his 7th win over a top 10 player (how many other young up-and-comers can say that?), and there's no signs of slowing down.\u00a0 Wawrinka should be worried a little bit, I think his biggest challenge of the tournament will come tomorrow versus Raonic!<\/p>\n
I will tweet from @MilosRaonicBlog when I know what court and time we can expect to see the Raonic \/ Wawrinka match.\u00a0 It doesn't look like Sportsnet showed it today unfortunately, judging by the tweets I received.\u00a0 If anyone saw it aired anywhere, let us know with a comment.\u00a0 Thanks!<\/p>\n
http:\/\/twitter.com\/Tennis_Canada\/status\/236252718619045888<\/p>\n