ATP Cincinnati: Milos Raonic after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final
Milos Raonic is in the final of the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 event. The Canadian beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals in two contested sets with 7: 6 (5) and 6: 3. In the final he will meet the winner of the match between Novak Djokovic and Roberto Bautista Agut .
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Aug 28, 2020, 08:50 pm
In the 2020 game year, it is actually a rarity to claim at the end of August that two players are currently playing their second duel of the season. Because a short time after the Australian Open, the ATP tour was temporarily over, so the opportunities to find a particularly often-seen opponent have been rare. Two players who actually meet for the second time at the Western & Southern Open are Stefanos Tsitsipas and Milos Raonic.
The Greek and the serving giant faced each other at the first Grand Slam of the year in Flushing Meadows, at that time with the better end for the Canadian Raonic. Tsitsipas would have felt "stupid" at the time, that's how outstanding Raonic struck in this encounter. A strength that the 29-year-old should show from the start in this duel with the Greek.
Enormously sovereign service games
But Tsitsipas is also considered a good server, and accordingly there were few dangerous situations for the server in the first round of this semi-final game. Logically, a tie-break had to bring the decision in the first sentence. This also went on at eye level for a long time, more precisely until the score of 6: 5 from Raonic's point of view. The Canadian took great risks - and was rewarded. With a massive forehand winner, Raonic grabbed set one 7: 5 in the tiebreak.
Milos Raonic was able to take this momentum right into the start of the second round, already in Tsitsipas' first service game the Canadian built up a lot of pressure, in the second the time had come - the world number 30. went in front with a break. In view of the previous Raonics service games, one could speak of a small preliminary decision in this match at this point.
This assumption came true a few minutes later, Raonic still didn't allow anything with his own serve, was closer to another break than Tsitsipas to the rebreak. After about an hour and 40 minutes, the Canadian finally served for the 7: 6 and 6: 3 success.
Final against Djokovic or Bautista Agut
For Raonic it is the fourth final in an ATP Masters 1000 event. In the final, the Canadian will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Roberto Bautista Agut, which will take place directly after this match. You can follow this game as well as the final of the Western & Southern Open live on Sky.