Federer and Raonic Thrill Madrid with Evening Classic

(May 9th, 2012) For a city that loves to entertain well into the night, Roger Federer and Milos Raonic certainly obliged Madrid with another evening classic at the Mutua Madrid Open.

Playing in his first match since losing to Andy Roddick in Miami six weeks ago, Roger Federer took to the blue courts of Madrid to play his opening match of the clay court season against rising Canadian star Milos Raonic. With Raonic serving 16 aces in his previous match against David Nalbandian, Raonic was tipped by many to actually surprise Federer with an upset.

But it was the "magicinal" Federer (as tennis analyst Robbie Koenig would say) that provided a few surprises of his own.

As expected, Raonic opened up with his biggest weapon firing, bombing down eight aces in the first set. Raonic was a perfect 14 of 14 on his first serve points and when he converted on his only break point, it was all he needed to wrap up the set 6-4.

But Federer displayed his usual steely calm while at the same time choosing to serve and volley almost on every point during the second set. The slippery blue court with its low bounces at times played more like a fast grass surface with both men using a variety of shots to their advantage.

Serving at 5-6, Raonic looked poised to force a tiebreak. But perhaps Raonic thought too much about the moment and what he was about to pull off as it was Federer who went on the attack instead, winning three return points including one with a delicate drop volley to steal the set 7-5.

Raonic would have his chances to break Federer mid-way through the third set when an errant Federer backhand gave the Canadian two break points at 3-all. But Federer surprised Raonic with another serve and volley that won him the point followed by an ace to pull things to deuce before Federer held for 4-3.

Both men held serve from there to force a final set tiebreak. A netted backhand from Raonic gave Federer an early mini break that he held onto until Federer pulled a forehand wide to allow Raonic to close to within 4-5 and with two serves on his racquet.

But Raonic, as he did late in the second set, couldn't bring his best when he needed it as he blew an easy forehand wide to give Federer two match points. Federer, sensing the moment, attacked Raonic's next serve with a whipping crosscourt forehand winner to seal a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 win.

Raonic hit 47 winners to Federer's 36, but it was clear that the experience of the former No. 1 was what saw him through this difficult night. Federer will now meet Richard Gasquet in the next round.

Other winners on the day included Rafael Nadal who had no trouble dismissing Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 6-2 during the Spaniard's debut on the blue courts. The last two American men left in the draw also departed as John Isner played two poor tiebreaks to lose to Marin Cilic 7-6, 7-6 while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga saw off Ryan Harrison 6-2, 7-6.