By Chris Oddo | Wednesday June 15, 2016
Milos Raonic began the McEnroe coaching era in style by finishing off a three-set win over Nick Kyrgios at Queen's Club.
Photo Source: Ben Hoskins/LTA
Milos Raonic, with John McEnroe in his coaching box for the first time, finished off a two-day victory over Nick Kyrgios in London on Wednesday, snapping a personal three-match losing streak against the Aussie and setting up a second-rounder with Jiri Vesely.
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Raonic cracked 20 aces and saved two break points in his final service game to finish off a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 victory that was dominant despite the close scoreline.
Kyrgios held close throughout, but had to dig out of break point down scenarios on several occasions. The pressure of having Raonic, who broke two times on eleven break points, constantly breathing down his neck finally became too much in the ninth game of the third set as the Aussie missed a backhand long then double-faulted twice in succession to hand the Canadian the critical break.
Kyrgios, who went for big second serves on both double-faults, sat in his chair looking disgusted with himself during the changeover, but when he got back to playing he found himself with a big opportunity.
With Raonic serving for the match, Kyrgios steadied himself and earned a double-break point—his first break opportunities of the match—but wicked serving from Raonic—an occupational hazard for his competition on grass— took the racquet out of his hands.
The Canadian won the final four points to clinch his 28th victory of the year.
Raonic finished with 53 winners against 19 unforced errors, and improves to 19-13 lifetime on grass. He’s still a work in progress on the surface, but with four-time Queen’s and three-time Wimbledon champion in his corner, Raonic hopes to make big strides this season. That fact alone is enough put a smile on John McEnroe’s face.
In other early action at Queen’s, Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund earned the biggest win of his career as he took down 8th-seeded Gilles Simon, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
Paul-Henri Mathieu also advanced, 7-6(8), 6-7(6), 6-3, over Daniel Evans.