How could Milos Raonic punctuate his first game in Toronto after five years away? With an ace out on the second ball to eliminate Frances Tiafoe, the 10th racquet in the world.
In fact, the Canadian had four aces in the last game. It was time to end it. 2h 44min of action, two medical stops to massage his back and a broken racquet later, Raonic could finally celebrate his return, fist in the air, with the nonchalant gait that we know him. He had just won his debut match, against all odds, in three sets of 612-714, 7-64 and 6-3.
Pretty much everyone was counting Raonic down before the game even started. In fact, when drawing lots, the logic would have been to advance the name of the American immediately in the next column.
The Ontarian was only playing his fifth game in nearly two years. Facing him, a rising Tiafoe freshly landed in the top 10 with two titles in his pocket since the start of the season.
With this win, Raonic beat a top 10 player for the first time in three years, almost to the day.
“I saw through my training what level I could play. I’ve always said that when you do the right things, anything can happen, at any time,” he said an hour after the meeting.
Raonic has managed to make a name for himself through his service. His main weapon, still just as lethal.
This Milos-style match was defined and decided by powerful serves, short rallies and fairly simplistic patterns. In a way, this is also what was to be expected.
Raonic finished the game with 37 aces, 87% first-ball winnings and six break points saved on seven occasions. In fact, he was one ace away from equaling his personal best in a three-set match, set in Memphis in 2011.
“I knew the best way out was to make sure of the status of my service,” he said.
Even Tiafoe was appalled at how Raonic could either lead the exchanges or respond to his attacks.
The Canadian machine took some time to get going, of course. At the start of the match, the 6’5″ guy had trouble moving around, getting to the balls in time and judging them.
Even though he lost a long 26-point tiebreaker, that’s when the game took a new turn.
The local favorite forced many ties. At each change of side, the gladiators were neck and neck. The tension was so high that, for once, Raonic exploded.
The last game of this first tiebreaker was decided in controversy. Tiafoe was leading 13-12, and Raonic served her a falling bunt from the right side, in the service box.
Tiafoe got to the ball, laid it crosswise on Raonic’s side, but the American ended up in the net. Actually, at the end of the net, where an airline advertisement is placed.
Even though the ball had bounced twice in Raonic’s territory, he was convinced that the point would go in his favor, since his rival had touched the net, which is prohibited by the rules.
However, the referee explained to Raonic that this section was not part of the net, since it exceeded the post of the field in singles.
Raonic and Tiafoe continued to argue and, after telling the players that it was “a settlement” and not “a matter of judgment”, the match supervisor came to rule in favor of Tiafoe.
Tournament official Tony Cho later explained that “Tiafoe hit the section between the singles post and the post holding the net. This section is considered permanent and is not part of the net. »
Raonic returned to his bench and smashed his racket into the furniture. A very rare reaction on his part. He who is usually as sober and conservative as his uniform.
“What was confusing was that he gave me the point, initially. And he changed his mind. The point wasn’t where he had hit the net, but rather that with the speed and angle of the ball he couldn’t have hit the net before the ball had bounced twice. […] I don’t think they [officials] have been completely honest, but that’s what it is. I think they mishandled,” Raonic clarified, still emotional.
However, it seemed to whip him. Thereafter, it was more incisive, more biting and suddenly more in rhythm.
The crowd also took a stand in this altercation. She also gave her darling a standing ovation at the end of the second set, and the same treatment followed at the end of the meeting.
Milos Raonic is back, and no one will want to sit down until his Toronto streak is over.
