Madrid Open: Federer rallies past Raonic, Nadal wins
10 May 2012 4:59 PM GMT
Roger Federer rallied to beat Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) at the Madrid Open to narrowly avoid his earliest tournament exit in two years.
Federer hasn't been eliminated from a tournament in the second round since the 2010 Rome Masters, and the 16-time Grand Slam champion had to call on his wealth of experience and shot-making abilities to survive an early scare against the 23rd-ranked Canadian player.
Rafael Nadal had an easier time in his first match on the blue clay as he beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 6-2.
Defending women's champion Petra Kvitova lost to Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-3 while top-seeded Victoria Azarenka beat Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-4.
Raonic also stretched Federer to three sets in their only other meeting at Indian Wells earlier this season, where Federer also rallied to win.
Raonic overpowered Federer's attempts to serve-and-volley early as he hit perfect passing shots whenever the Swiss star came forward. Raonic won 12 straight points to close out the first set, earning the decisive break in the ninth game.
Federer was on the back foot again to start the second, but the Swiss player's serve bailed him out repeatedly, helping him save all four break points he faced in the set.
Federer secured the break he needed in the 11th game by stretching Raonic wide to send a shot into the net, and then clinched the set with a soft drop shot.
Both players held serve in the decider to force the tiebreaker, where Federer led 4-1 before a number of erratic shots from the Swiss player allowed Raonic to cut it to 5-4.
But Raonic unleashed a wild forehand long to give Federer match point, and the third-ranked Swiss stroked a sublime crosscourt forehand to clinch the victory.
Federer hasn't been eliminated from a tournament in the second round since the 2010 Rome Masters, and the 16-time Grand Slam champion had to call on his wealth of experience and shot-making abilities to survive an early scare against the 23rd-ranked Canadian player.
Rafael Nadal had an easier time in his first match on the blue clay as he beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 6-2.
Defending women's champion Petra Kvitova lost to Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-3 while top-seeded Victoria Azarenka beat Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-4.
Raonic also stretched Federer to three sets in their only other meeting at Indian Wells earlier this season, where Federer also rallied to win.
Raonic overpowered Federer's attempts to serve-and-volley early as he hit perfect passing shots whenever the Swiss star came forward. Raonic won 12 straight points to close out the first set, earning the decisive break in the ninth game.
Federer was on the back foot again to start the second, but the Swiss player's serve bailed him out repeatedly, helping him save all four break points he faced in the set.
Federer secured the break he needed in the 11th game by stretching Raonic wide to send a shot into the net, and then clinched the set with a soft drop shot.
Both players held serve in the decider to force the tiebreaker, where Federer led 4-1 before a number of erratic shots from the Swiss player allowed Raonic to cut it to 5-4.
But Raonic unleashed a wild forehand long to give Federer match point, and the third-ranked Swiss stroked a sublime crosscourt forehand to clinch the victory.
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