Rejuvenated Murray ready to dodge Raonic bullets in final
LONDON: Since Andy Murray’s memory is as razor sharp as his service returns, he will not have forgotten the parting shot he received from Milos Raonic when they last played.
“Next time I’m going to try to serve through him!” the Canadian sharp shooter warned.
Three weeks after losing a three-set tussle to Murray at Queen’s Club, Raonic will get a chance to execute his plan as the two clash in Sunday’s Wimbledon final.
Over the past fortnight, anyone brave enough to stand in Raonic’s firing line has been flatted by a series of 140 mph missiles.
The man with the golden arm tops the list for aces (137) and fastest serve (144 mph) at this year’s tournament after he pole-axed Roger Federer for the first time in a major to became the first Canadian man to reach a grand slam final.
Now the sixth seed wants to make sure all his hard work does not unravel in the final as he faces a rival who he called tennis’s “premier workaholic”.
“The biggest challenge for me, (is not to get) sucked into his game,” said the 25-year-old, who trails Murray 3-6 in head-to-head meetings.
“Andy will try to throw you off, give you some slower balls, some harder balls, all these kinds of things. I guess my goal is to keep him away from that, play it on my terms, be aggressive, not hesitate.”
TWO COACHES In the era of super-coaches, Raonic has the luxury of relying on not one, but two former grand slam champions in the shape of Carlos Moya and threetimes Wimbledon champion John McEnroe. Adding the American to his team for the grasscourt season has proved to be a masterstroke.
“Milos has got the type of game when he can take the racket out of anyone’s hand. That’s what he did against Federer,” said McEnroe, who will have a slightly different role when he takes his place in the ESPN booth on Sunday. Instead of being his usual outspoken, unbiased self calling the shots for TV on Centre Court, the American tennis great will be acting as a third wheel giving insight into Raonic’s game.