2020 in Review: Milos Raonic eases past Andy Murray to reach Cincinnati quarters

In their previous meeting on the Tour, Andy Murray and Milos Raonic played one of the most exciting matches in the ATP Finals' history. Murray prevailed 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 in the semi-final after three hours and 38 minutes, staying on the title course and moving a win away from stealing the year-end no. 1 honor from Novak Djokovic. A lot had changed in the last four years, and both players had been struggling with injuries, losing ground in the rankings and not being able to chase notable titles. More than three and a half years after the previous clash, Andy and Milos were the Cincinnati third round rivals. The Canadian scored a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 triumph in the rain-delayed encounter to move into the quarters. Milos advanced to his 26th Masters 1000 quarter-final and the first since Indian Wells 2019, dropping only 13 points in eight service games and fending off both break chances offered to a former champion.

Andy had to work hard in the previous match against Alexander Zverev, scoring his first top-10 victory since Roland Garros 2017 but losing too much energy, having nothing left in the tank for Raonic clash. Milos grabbed his last triumph over Andy in Indian Wells 2014, finishing on the losing side against the Briton in the next eight matches but changing that with rock-solid performance, hitting 21 winners in comparison to only seven from Murray, who never found the desired rhythm.

In their first match since 2016, Milos Raonic beat Andy Murray in Cincinnati.

Andy failed to return almost every third serve that came from the other side of the net, losing edge in both the shortest and more extended exchanges to end his run in the third round and propel Milos through.

The servers barely lost a point in the first four games, and that all changed at 2-2 when Murray netted an easy forehand to push Raonic in the lead. Milos confirmed the break with a service winner and secured another break at 4-2 following a backhand mistake from the Briton. The Canadian sealed the opener with an ace in game eight for 6-2 in 34 minutes. After four points at the beginning of the second set, they went off the court for an hour and a half due to rain. Once they returned, Milos grabbed a break thanks to Andy's smash error to open a set and a break lead. Facing the only troubles on serve at 3-2, Raonic fired two winners to erase those, secured another break at 4-2 and sealed the deal with three winners in game eight to remain on the title course.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/38Gtsoi