Focused Raonic tramples first Rogers Cup opponent
Wins in straight sets as Pospisil, Shapovalov suffer 2nd-round defeats
Outfitted head-to-toe in New Balance red and white, still glowing from a runners-up showing at Wimbledon two weeks ago, looking about as dialed-in as ever, Milos Raonic made quite the Rogers Cup entrance on Wednesday.
Playing in his backyard for the first time since 2014, the hardserving tennis star from Thornhill, Ont., dismantled Yen-Hsun Lu in an easy straight-sets victory on Centre Court at the Aviva Centre.
“I didn’t expect to play as well as I did. That was sort of hopeful. I knew that a lot of things were going to come down to me, how I dealt with (the windy and humid weather conditions),” Raonic said following an efficient 6-3, 6-3 win in the second round.
The version of Milos Raonic tennis fans at York University were treated to in his return to a Canadian court was equal parts relaxed and focused. Now 38-9 in 2016, including an 18-3 record on hard court, he seemed more animated than usual in his third career meeting with Lu, the world No. 70.
“After discussions with (my coaches), it’s been about sometimes — you know, you let yourself get in that situation too much where you bottle up a lot of energy — start expressing (myself ) more,” Raonic said, “be more positive with it, show more intensity. In tough moments, fight fire with fire sometimes, a bit more.”
Overall, the 25-year-old made quick work of Lu, notching the final point only 65 minutes after the match’s opening hit, essentially trampling any and all moves made his way. His trademark quick and accurate serve was on, as he cashed in on eight aces.
American Jared Donaldson is Raonic’s next opponent at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. Donaldson beat Italian Fabio Fognini in three sets to advance to the third round. Raonic, seeded fourth, faces unseeded Donaldson Thursday.
Every one of the tournament’s other marquee names — Novak Djokovic, Sam Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and Tomas Berdych — also won in their debuts.
To cap off Wednesday’s packed schedule, Canadian teen Denis Shapovalov, a wild-card entry, was eliminated 6-4, 6-3 on Centre Court by former world No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov.
Shapovalov, the recent junior Wimbledon champion with long blond hair, exits his first Rogers Cup as a feel-good story. His firstround upset of Nick Kyrgios made headlines across the tennis world.
The left-handed 17-year-old has a big-time fan in Raonic.
“He’s been doing incredible things,” Raonic said. “It’s actually a pleasure to have more and more players to share (the spotlight) with.”
The crowd-pleasing Shapovalov came into the tournament ranked 370th in the world. He’ll climb to at least the No. 290 spot when the newest ATP rankings are released. He simply rose to the occasion.
“It’s a good time and it’s a good time for Canadian tennis,” Raonic continued. “And it’s the start of it. I think it’s going to continue to get better.”
A good time for Canadians, in general. But not for one Canuck: Vasek Pospisil.
Earlier in the day, the Vancouver product spiralled even further toward rock bottom.
Facing stiff second-round competition in Gael Monfils, Pospisil fell apart in the second set, dropping a 7-6(6), 6-0 decision. Monfils, No. 14 on the ATP rankings, took full advantage of a vulnerable 26-year-old with an ugly 6-18 record this year.
Pospisil had praised Monfils during his pre-match media availability — “he doesn’t have many weaknesses, and he’s a great athlete,” he said — and now is winless in three meetings with the Frenchman.
“Six months of frustration,” he said Wednesday, “just kind of erupted in that second set.”
Pospisil let out a deep sigh before saying he would “try to take some positives out of this week.” He played some of the best tennis of his season in Wednesday’s first set.
Beginning Thursday versus Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock, Pospisil will team up with Canadian legend Daniel Nestor as the sixth seed in the men’s doubles bracket.
Times are good in Canada. Not perfect.