Federer eyes grand performance in Brisbane showdown vs. Raonic
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA— Roger Federer has a chance to go into the Australian Open with 1,000 career match wins, but he’ll have to beat Canadian Milos Raonic to do it.
Top-seed Federer beat No. 4 Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2 in Saturday’s Brisbane International semifinals, setting a date with third-seeded Raonic — who served 34 aces to grind out a 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-44) win over No. 2 Kei Nishikori. Federer is 7-1head-to-head against the 24-yearold from Thornhill.
The final goes Sunday at 4 a.m. Eastern (TV: Sportsnet One replays at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.)
“It’s a goal for the season, so I still have time to get to a thousand,” Federer said, smiling. “I mean, it’s a really big number, no doubt about it. Love to get it (Sunday), especially in the finals in an ATP event where most of my wins have come. If not (Sunday), I hope it happens at the Australian Open. It would definitely be an incredible milestone to reach.” Only Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl have won more than 1,000.
“They were very consistent for a long time, very match tough, and definitely players and athletes you could look up to because their longevity was incredible,” the 33-year-old Federer said. “It would mean a lot to get to a thousand, but they’re still ahead of me.”
The third-seeded Raonic appeared to grow in confidence as the match progressed against U.S. Open finalist Nishikori, earning three match points with an ace in the third tiebreaker and then clinching it after 21⁄ hours with a stunning forehand
2 service return.
Raonic said he’ll be relying again on his big serve, which helped the Canadian beat Federer for the first time in Paris last year.
“That’s always been a key,” Raonic said. “Last few matches I started poorly. I would get broken right in my first service game, which is not the way to really go about things, especially against a top player and especially against Roger. So I’ve got to keep that pressure on him and then sort of step up when I can create my opportunities.”
Raonic’s win over U.S. Open finalist Nishikori was only his second in six meetings.
“I felt I served really well. That’s held me around, especially in the beginning, because I felt he was getting more and more on top of me at the beginning from the baseline,” Raonic said. “That sort of kept me in it and sort of gave me a chance.”
Earlier, in Auckland, New Zealand, Venus Williams recovered from a set and a break down for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over top-seeded Carolina Wozniacki in the final of the ASB Classic.