Novak Djokovic and Milos Raonic will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers when they battle for the BNP Paribas Open title on Sunday afternoon.
Djokovic is sweeping the head-to-head series 5-0 and he is 13-1 in total sets against Raonic. They have not faced each other since the quarterfinals of the 2015 Australian Open, in which Djokovic prevailed 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2. Raonic took the first set from the Serb on the clay courts of Rome in 2014 before eventually succumbing 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-3.
The two-time defending champion in Indian Wells, Djokovic has made a return trip to the final with victories over Bjorn Fratangelo, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Feliciano Lopez, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Rafael Nadal. The top-ranked Serb dropped his opening set of the fortnight to Fratangelo but has since gone unblemished.
Raonic’s run to a third career Masters 1000 title match has come as a surprise, but only because he missed all of February with an adductor injury. The 14th-ranked Canadian had previously been in outstanding form, with a title in Brisbane and a semifinal performance at the Aussie Open. His first tournament since the layoff has featured defeats of Inigo Cervantes, Bernard Tomic, Tomas Berdych, Gael Monfils, and David Goffin. Only the Belgian managed to snag a set on Saturday but he ultimately went down 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
“It’s a difficult matchup,” Raonic commented. “I think that I have added good things to my tennis that can help me in that aspect. It’s going to be important to control the center of the court; obviously be the one that’s moving less.
“I think if I can play with a forceful attitude like I did in the third (against Goffin), I can have my opportunities. I think for me my game-plan is simple: it’s about dictating. I don’t think it’s so much about who’s on the other side of the net.”
“Milos is probably playing the best tennis that he has ever played,” Djokovic praised. “I think looking at his performances this year…it’s quite impressive. His serve was phenomenal before the start of this season, but this season it seems like he has improved even more, especially the second serve…. We are playing [in the final], so I’ll try to also use the experience that I have had playing in many Masters Series finals in this tournament.”
Experience may be a factor, but the bottom line is that this is simply not a good matchup for Raonic–and it’s not for anyone else right now, either. Djokovic is returning better than every other player in the game, so the underdog will have to be prepared for his serve to come back more often than usual. The surface is not a bad one for Raonic, but he would prefer to face Djokovic on either grass or a lightning-fast indoor hard court.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 with at least one tiebreaker
[polldaddy poll=9354970]
who ya got?
Nole in 2, agree with your assessment
Nole in straights with at least one breaker though he may win without one. And it could go the other way with two tiebreak sets if Raonic is serving super well. If he’s serving lights out he could take a set and maybe the match but I don’t see him bringing an out of this world performance. Novak to claim an amazing sixth title in the desert of Indian Wells.
2 or 3 setts with nole lifting the trophy.
2 or 3 sets. You sure about that?
Brilliant.
nole winning in 2 or 3. what was not clear there, i’d be happy to clarify. cheers.
As has happened before the SF was the real final. Today is a mere formality.
well Raonic has a better chance against Djokovic than Nadal does, so….
Three hard match in a row may be too much even for the Serb. Expect a tough match with equal chances for success!
I am going with Milos in 3…
I hope Milos wins! He sure can…
Any chance we might see some animation from Raonic?
No, I thought not.
LOL! Not likely!
I actually think that Roanic can make a match of this. Novak hasn’t been at his best and he didn’t need to be against Rafa. But Raonic has shown mental strength and toughness. If he comes out there with belief that he can win, then things could be interesting.
Hoping Milos wins..but thats just the heart ..Am okay with anyone to beat Novak..I mean anyone on tour to dent his confidence and bring him back to earth 🙂
Yesterday he received a mild warning from the umpire for taking so long to wander back to the service line.
I didn’t know that. I am certainly in favor of anyone who can beat Novak and maybe put a chunk in his armor.
Chink! Not chunk!
When is the Miami draw out? Want to see a Fed vs Rafa there to see how this Rafa fares against Fed or Murray or Stan:-)
1230 tomorrow
Yay!
Good point…let’s see how he fares against other top guys..I think he will take care of Fed in 2 sets… Fed will be rusty and rafa is improving…In fact, even if fed were playing well, would still give the edge to Rafa.
vamosrafa,
I agree. I would love to see how Rafa does against Fed, Murray and Stan in Miami.
The thing that concerns me is Rafa being outside the top four. He got a break with Fed being out and moving up to #4. But he will be back to #5 in Miami. He could still face Novak in the quarterfinals. We just have to hope it doesn’t happen.
Yes if Rafa can handle the other top 10 apart from Novak, he can get lucky by avoiding being in Novaks part of draw and hoping someone else to take him out
If Novak wins IW & Miami this year too, it will be 3 years in a row he will be claiming both back to back
unreal
Nole in two.
I agree with strummer it won’t go more than three sets.
LOL!
It’s good to have Hawkeye back! 🙂
Nole in 4 or 5
or
Raonic in 3
Raonic in 3.
I’ve been waiting for this opportunity.
Good luck!
Djokovic in 2 sets with 1 tiebreak.
In the ladies Final Serena has so far broken 2 rackets she is a set and 4-1 down.
Hate to say it, but Joker just too good for anyone right now….will win in straight, no tbs.