Milos Raonic is the first player to move into the Miami Open presented by Itau third round courtesy of a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Viktor Troicki on Friday.
”I have to be very happy with just the outcome, that I was able to get the win today, that I have another chance to play in two days,” said Raonic. “Hopefully I can continue to progress throughout this tournament.”
The third seed has returned to the ATP World Tour having been sidelined by a right leg injury, which forced him to concede a walkover in the Delray Beach Open final (vs. Sock) last month, before withdrawing from Abierto Mexicano Telcel and the BNP Paribas Open.
”I've always been the kind of person that gets the confidence through the work rather than matches, constant matches,” added the World No. 5. “But I've put in the work that I can. I've prepared the best I can for this tournament. I'm not necessarily in the best position right now, but fortunately it's a long tournament. Doesn't mean things can't change and I can't get better throughout this event.”
Watch Full Match ReplaysBack on court and the Canadian entered his match against Troicki, who has reached the fourth round in Miami twice, leading their FedEx ATP Head2Head 3-1.
Raonic clinched the opening set and looked on course for the win with a 3-1 second set lead. However, World No. 38 Troicki drew level until 5-5 when Raonic’s pressure on return secured the deciding break. Raonic advances to play the winner of Mischa Zverev or #NextGenATP player Jared Donaldson.
Former World No. 69 Jesse Levine has joined Raonic’s coaching set-up in Miami. “This week we came down here early. He was helping out. We're open to working together through a few weeks throughout the year to sort of fill out what I feel I need to get better,” said Raonic. “He's somebody that I get along with great, is a little bit closer to my age as well, and somebody that I can play with on court and put in hard hours with.”
Jeremy Chardy defeated seventh seed Marin Cilic for the first time since 2009 to move into the third round with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory. The World No.77 levelled their FedEx ATP Head2Head at 2-2 to advance on to the third stage in Miami for the second time.
Philipp Kohlschreiber prevailed in a two-and-a-half hour battle with #NextGenATP player Taylor Fritz 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(4) in their first meeting. The World No. 31 will hope to book a Miami fourth round place for the first time when he faces the winner of Rafael Nadal and Dudi Sela.
Jiri Vesely ousted 19th seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, while wildcard Thomaz Bellucci defeated Stephane Robert 7-6(5), 6-2 in the first round.