Photo Credits: AP1_10_2016_000169B
AFP
Brisbane
Big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic said he was confident of Grand Slam success this year after stunning Roger Federer to win the Brisbane International on Sunday.
Raonic, 25, broke the 17-time Grand Slam champion once in each set to take the final 6-4, 6-4, only his second win over Federer in 11 meetings. Federer had been improving every round after starting the tournament with a slight illness but was no match for Raonic, who served powerfully and came to the net at every opportunity.
The win gave Raonic his eighth title on the ATP tour and reversed the result of last year's final, won by 34-year-old Federer in three tight sets. The Canadian said later the win showed that he could challenge for a Grand Slam title after enduring a tough year in 2015 due to injury.
"(There are) sort of two steps," he said, "being able to step up and play great for two weeks, which I believe I can definitely do. Then there is the aspect of if you want to compete to be the best player in the world, that's about playing good for about 30 weeks.
"That's maybe another step away, but I definitely feel I have it within myself to step up and play great tennis for two weeks."
Raonic took full advantage of an out-of-sorts Federer and always looked the more likely to win. The Canadian said that in general "I was staying quite a bit ahead on my serve and always close on his". "So I was giving myself opportunities and then was able to capitalise twice."
Federer was off his game throughout, serving at only 55 percent and struggling to make any impression on Raonic. The top seed had to save two break points in the fifth game of the first set and then faced another two in the ninth. He saved the first but put a forehand into the net on the second to go behind 4-5. Raonic had no trouble serving for the set, wrapping up the opener in 41 minutes.
Raonic took a medical time-out at 2-1 in the second set to have treatment on his right leg. When he returned, he served four double faults to give Federer his first break point of the match. But Federer was unable to take advantage and games remained on serve until the seventh game, when Federer let a 30-0 lead slip to give Raonic a break point. He then netted a backhand to give the Canadian the vital break.
Raonic, who only faced the one break point in the match, never looked like faltering and claimed the title when a Federer backhand sailed long. Federer conceded he was feeling off the pace in the final.
"You know, like one step too slow. I definitely felt tired in my legs throughout the week, so then you feel that in defence," he said. "When you feel it in the most important moments, every time I had a chance to create some better plays, you know, it just wouldn't be happening."
