By Erik Gudris | Sunday, September 27, 2015
Milos Raonic claimed his first title of the season with a hard-fought three set win in St. Petersburg.
Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images
In what's been a tough season for Milos Raonic, he can finally celebrate his first title this year at the St. Petersburg Open. Yet, he was made to work for it in an entertaining final.
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Portugal's Joao Sousa reached the final by enjoying a solid week that included knocking out Dominic Theim in the semifinals. Raonic came into Sunday not having dropped serve all week. He also entered knowing that he defeated Sousa in two previous career meetings, with both of those taking place on clay.
Early on in the opening set, Raonic sought to dominate early with his big serve. Though he faced an early break point, Raonic erased it with a forehand winner before going up 2-1.
Sousa himself tried to fight off multiple break points against him in the next game. Yet on the third one, Raonic struck a loopy forehand winner to give himself the lead 3-1.
From there, Raonic held onto his advantage and with an ace took the set 6-3.
The second seeded Raonic looked poised to take total command in the second set. The Canadian held seven break points against his opponent's serve in the early stages. Yet, Sousa refused to blink and held on to his serve for 2-1.
Sousa's game plan of moving forward and trying to finish off points on his terms finally paid off in the next game. Sousa manufactured yet another break point on Raonic's serve. But this time, Sousa converted with a fine forehand pass. With that, Sousa broke Raonic for the first time and took a 3-1 lead.
Though Raonic started moving forward to net more often, he wasn't as effective as Sousa. The Portuguese No. 1 held onto his lead and soon served out the set 6-3 when Raonic struck a backhand wide.
Raonic changed the momentum in the second game of the final set. Once again, the Canadian held a pair of break points on Sousa's serve. Though Sousa tried to go big on a second serve, he instead struck a double fault. That handed Raonic the lead for 2-0.
Things didn't get easier for Raonic though as he found himself in all sorts of trouble in the next game. Down two break points, Raonic managed to slice a backhand low enough that Sousa netted what looked like a makeable volley. Raonic, in all fought off four break points, before finally closing out the game for 3-0.
Sousa kept up his aggressive returning and would hold two more break points in the fifth game. Yet, Raonic battled through that test and with yet another blistering serve held on for 4-1.
Raonic enjoyed a more routine service hold as Sousa showed frustration at having played well during the afternoon, but still finding himself behind. Raonic now found himself a game away at 5-2.
Serving for the match later at 5-3, Raonic quickly jumped out to 40-0. Sousa denied two match points against him. But with a potent kick second serve at 40-30, Raonic finally closed out the tough 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory.
Raonic though hitting 22 aces total was only able to convert two out of his 12 break point opportunities in the match.
St. Petersburg is now the first title of the season for Raonic and his seventh career title overall. The win also keeps Raonic in the hunt for one of four spots left for grabs at the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals.