If his efforts since the start of 2018 had not shown enough, Canadian Milos Raonic loudly and clearly announced his return to form on Tuesday evening.
The 27-year-old earned his first Top 10 win since Brisbane in 2017 (d. Nadal) with an impressive 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 triumph against reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov at the Mutua Madrid Open.
"I played well. Created a lot of opportunities, made the most of a few of them," Raonic said. "Overall a very positive level and a positive performance for me."
Raonic struggled throughout 2017 with various injuries. But the World No. 24, who made the semi-finals at Indian Wells and the quarter-finals at Miami earlier this year, earned his second Top 20 win of 2018 against a player in Dimitrov whom he had not beaten since Stockholm in 2011. The Bulgarian still leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 3-2.
Raonic faced break point at 3-3 in the decider — one of just two break points he faced in the match — but once he held, the pressure was back on Dimitrov. That was when all of Raonic's efforts in the encounter to step into second-serve returns paid massive dividends.
"I'm trying to move forward. That's where I can do my best. That's where I can give myself the best opportunity to win," Raonic said. "I'm happy with that. I'm happy with the fact that I was able to execute and serve well."
Dimitrov, perhaps in an effort to avoid a big return by the former World No. 3, double-faulted at deuce while serving at 3-4. And then on break point, Raonic's block-return of a body serve barely clipped the baseline and with the well-placed serve neutralised, the Canadian then took control of the point with his forehand. He eventually stepped into a flat forehand down the line that the Bulgarian could not handle. With the crucial break in hand, Raonic served out the two-hour match to 30.
If a second-round blockbuster wasn't enough for Raonic, he will get another one in the third round against his compatriot, Denis Shapovalov.
The #NextGenATP Canadian won a match of momentum swings, and plenty of power in Madrid to deny Benoit Paire of France the perfect 29th birthday present with a 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4 victory in two hours and nine minutes.
Shapovalov, now with a 3-3 record in clay-court matches, struck 38 winners — including 18 on his forehand.
Did You Know?
According to Infosys ATP Scores & Stats, entering Madrid, Milos Raonic was third all-time in service games won at 90.76 per cent. The Canadian won 14 of his 15 (93.33%) of his service games against Grigor Dimitrov on Tuesday.