By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday June 17, 2024
Milos Raonic hammered 47 aces, breaking the three-set ace record, in his victory over Cameron Norrie at Queen's Club on Monday.
Photo Source: TTV
2016 Queen’s Club finalist Milos Raonic has not played often of late. Just 19 matches since the start of the 2022 season. But when he does play, the 6’5” Toronto native makes a massive impact.
Case in point: Monday’s 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(9) victory over Cameron Norrie, which saw the Canadian crush 47 aces past the Brit as he broke the three-set ace record (Ivo Karlovic hit 45 in a match at Halle in 2015).
Not bad for his first appearance at Queen’s Club since 2019. The 33-year-old former World No.3 has had his share of injury troubles, but when he’s healthy he’s as dangerous as they come on the grass (as his 54-24 lifetime record on the surface attests).
Raonic, ranked 186, saved a pair of match points in the final set tiebreak to take out 2021 finalist Norrie in a thrilling encounter – he’ll face either Taylor Fritz or Taro Daniel in the second round.
“I got lucky to get through,” Raonic said after the win. “Obviously the serve helped me a lot today. It’s good to be back playing here at Queen’s, for me to be able to enjoy these tight moments, even though they are not always fun going through them in the moment, they are teh things that are the most exciting about being back on the court.”
Raonic saved both break points he faced – one in the second set at 2-0, and another in the third set at 2-3 – in the contest to prevail in two hours and 15 minutes.
In the final set tiebreak he squandered a 5-2 lead and found himself behind 7-6, but Norrie missed a backhand long on his first match point.
Raonic’s 46th ace gave him a 8-7 lead in the final set tiebreak, but he was not out of trouble yet, as Norrie saved Raonic’s second match point with an ace.
Raonic saved a second match point with a drive volley for 9-9.
Raonic blasted his 47th ace down the T for 10-9 and clinched his victory on the next point, converting his third match point with an inside out forehand winner.
“With the scoreline and having to save match points, I probably needed every single one of those,” Raonic said. “But my serve has always been the most important shot to me. This small record, it's something special, something meaningful."
Rune Tripped Up, Dimitrov Advances
Holger Rune fell at the first hurdle on Monday in London, falling to Australia's Jordan Thompson, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3, while Grigor Dimitrov continued his fine play in 2024 by defeating Adrian Mannarino, 6-1, 6-2. Frances Tiafoe was forced to retire in the third set against Rinky Hijikata, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 RET.