(New York) The Canadian Milos Raonic did not last forever and he disposed of the Briton Andy Murray in two identical sets of 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday at the Western & Southern Open.
Posted on August 25, 2020 at 1:43 p.m.
Updated at 21:27
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The only maple leaf representative still at the tournament, Raonic managed 10 aces and won 88% of his points in first serve to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
“I did a good job. I’ve put in a lot of effort and I’m happy to see how quickly things fall into place, ”said Raonic.
Raonic will now battle for the victory with Filip Krajinovic, who beat Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 6-1.
Before Raonic’s game, Serbian Novak Djokovic defeated American Tenny Sandgren in two sets of 6-2, 6-4. Djokovic’s neck was doing better and his game too.
“I am pleasantly surprised with how I recovered and how I felt today. Especially in the neck, because that’s what worried me, said Djokovic, who shows a 20-0 record in 2020. If we go back to four or five days ago, I was having a lot of difficulties . ”
This is the first ATP tournament in more than five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While Djokovic had to be treated by the healer on Monday and his game didn’t look right, he didn’t give Sandgren many chances to win this game.
The Western & Southern Open, which usually takes place in Cincinnati, is presented on the same venue as the United States Open this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No supporter has access to the site.
Djokovic tested positive for COVID-19 in June after hosting a series of friendlies in Serbia and Croatia. Supporters were admitted, and masks and physical distancing were not mandatory.
Djokovic has won five of the last seven Grand Slam tournaments, including the Australian Tennis Open, in February. His winning streak is the longest since he started the 2011 season with a 41-0 record.
PHOTO ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY SPORTS
Novak Djokovic
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Djokovic has been asked if he thinks he can finish this particular year without experiencing defeat.
“Listen, anything is possible. We don’t know what will happen after the US Open, he said. I’m not thinking about that right now and it’s not my goal, but I won’t complain if it happens. ”
Djokovic will now cross swords with Jan-Lennard Struff in the quarter-finals. The other table hut quarterfinal match features defending champion Daniil Medvedev and Roberto Bautista Agut.
Medvedev advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-3 in the afternoon.
Bedene was noted, however, for accidentally slamming a ball that hit a cameraman in the stands between two points in the second inning. The cameraman did not appear injured, but an ATP supervisor took to the court to determine whether Bedene should be disqualified. He eventually received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Slovenian, ranked 61e to the world, walked up to the cameraman and apologized for his gesture after the meeting.
For his part, Medvedev, the tournament’s third seed, didn’t face a single break point and won 89 percent of the points when his first ball was in play.
Last year, the Russian’s victory at the Western & Southern Open was part of a streak of six straight league appearances. He was notably a finalist at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, won by Spaniard Rafael Nadal, and the result was the same a few weeks later at the United States Open.
Reilly Opelka, for his part, eliminated Matteo Berrettini in two sets of 6-3, 7-6 (4) thanks to 19 aces. Opelka is now awaiting the winner of the duel between Stefanos Tsitsipas and John Isner.
On the women’s side, Maria Sakkari surprised Serena Williams in three sets of 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-1.
It was Williams’ fifth professional tennis match since the sport resumed operations after a six-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All five matches required three sets.
Williams seemed in control in the first inning, leading 5-3 and 30-0, but things started to turn sour. She missed two backhands in a row before sending her forehand into the net. Williams ultimately won the round, but hasn’t been the same afterwards.
Anett Kontaveit (no 12) and Elise Mertens (no 14) also reached the quarter-finals with an easy victory on Tuesday.
Kontaveit beat Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-3, while Mertens beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 6-3. Kudermetova surprised favorite Karolina Pliskova in the second round, while Bouzkova eliminated two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
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