ATP Indian Wells: Milos Raonic beats Miomir Kecmanovic to reach semis
The 13th seed and 2016 Indian Wells runner-up Milos Raonic has secured the place in the semi-final for the third straight time in the desert, toppling a lucky loser Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 12 minutes. The 19-year-old Serb became the first lucky loser in the quarter-final at Indian Wells although he couldn't continue his run despite a solid effort, wasting all three break points and getting broken once in each set to push the better-ranked opponent into the last four. Milos served at only 55% but he drew the most from that, firing 13 aces and delivering fury from the first serve to grab the pivotal moments and get the job done in just over 70 minutes, entering the tenth Masters 1000 semi-finals.
Miomir had 14 winners and only three unforced errors, taming his shots nicely but failing to make more damage on the return and convert at least one break chance that could make the result more interesting. On the other hand, the Canadian blasted 35 winners and 15 unforced errors, dominating with serve and forehand to create the gap in the shortest rallies up to four strokes that determined the winner. The rivals decided the outcome of the opening set in the middle games, with Milos scoring a break in game four with a crosscourt forehand winner before firing three service winner in a row to erase the break point in the following game.
The Canadian secured the first set with an ace in game nine in less than 30 minutes, with six good holds on both sides in set number two that kept them locked at 3-3. The course of the set changed in game seven when Milos grabbed a break with a volley winner, moving ahead and defending the advantage after saving two break points in the next game with a forehand crosscourt winner that propelled him 5-3 up. Serving for the match at 5-4, Raonic fired three great forehands and an ace to wrap the things up and book the place in the semis where he will play versus Gael Monfils or Dominic Thiem on Saturday.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2HyQK3p
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