Milos Raonic's serve too much for James Blake
MILAS RAONIC, 22, CANADA
Ranked: 15, 2013 Match Record: 20-11, Major Titles: 0--Best: 4th round, at Australian Open ('11, '13), U.S. Open ('12), Last 5 Wimbledons: '12-2nd, '11-2nd, '10-DNP, '09-DNP, '08-DNP
Topspin: At 6'5" tall, and with a big serve, Milas Raonic should fare better at Wimbledon than his pair of second-round losses so far. Raonic has struggled in grass-court preparation, losing opening matches at both Halle and Eastborne. Raonic, however, leads the ATP World Tour this year by winning 91 percent of his service games and 80 percent of first serve points. Raonic ranks thirst in total aces and is coached by former player Ivan Ljubicic. Raonic was born in Montenegro and moved with his family to Canada at age 3. (Sept. 1, 2012) Credit: AP, 2012
The latest man to be on the business end of 21-year-old Milos Raonic's supersonic serve -- sometimes easier heard than seen -- was aging American pro James Blake. Not unreasonably, Blake lost their third-round U.S. Open match Saturday, 6-3, 6-0, 7-6 (3).
Raonic surpassed the 140-mph mark in each set, with a top speed of 143. He served 29 aces, giving him 89 in his three Open matches. He allowed Blake a glimpse at only two break points -- both saved by Raonic -- through the first two sets. (Blake finally got one break in the third.)
Blake, once as high as No. 4 in the rankings but now 115th at 32 after knee surgery, never had a chance against the young Canadian, seeded 15th here.
"Just makes for a day of not-so-much-fun tennis," Blake said. "With that serve, it can take him a long way because that can take the racket out of another guy's hands, completely take the rhythm out of a match."
Raonic, born in Montenegro, moved with his parents to Canada when he was 3 but "never got on the ice" in that hockey-mad nation.
"I'm from Montenegro," he said. "I don't think you've ever heard of a hockey player from Montenegro, so my parents said, 'Try tennis.' "
The cognoscenti already can envision Raonic, referred to as "The Missile," as a future Grand Slam contender, with an opportunity to measure his progress Monday against No. 3 Andy Murray.
In other action featuring Americans on the Open's Day 6, 19-year-old Jack Sock was beaten by Spain's Nicolas Almagro, the No. 11 seed, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-1, before a packed and boisterous Grandstand crowd.
"The energy from that crowd was unbelievable," Sock said. "Great feeling."
No. 27 Sam Querrey lost to Czech Tomas Berdych, the No. 6 seed, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
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