A classic grass-court contest should be in store for Saturday’s bottom-half semifinal at Queen’s Club, where Milos Raonic will go up against Bernard Tomic. Andy Murray may await the winner of this showdown in the title match. Thomas Cluck previews the action.
In the latter stages of a week filled with tiresome rain delays and some pristine grass-court tennis, Canadian Milos Raonic meets mercurial Aussie Bernard Tomic for a spot in the final at the AEGON Championships on Saturday. Not only are they two wins away from a 500-point title, but they are also getting to prepare their grass-court games at the prestigious Queen’s Club in advance of the season’s third major at Wimbledon.
Raonic was dealt a brutal draw, having to face another extremely talented Aussie in Nick Kyrgios right off the bat. After Kyrgios came out red hot and took the first set in a tiebreaker, Raonic leveled the match at one set all prior to play being suspended for the day. The third seed eventually gained a critical break late in the third set to punch his ticket to the second round. In his next match, the 2014 Wimbledon semifinalist fended off Czech left-hander Jiri Vesely 7-5, 7-6(6) to reach the last eight. In the quarterfinals, Raonic came up against the reliable consistency of Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut but had little trouble advancing 6-1, 6-4.
Much like Raonic, the unseeded Tomic has also been forced to fight through some tough matches. The controversial 23-year-old opened against qualifier Kevin Anderson, who was predictably tired after three qualifying matches and was far from his best–resulting in a routine 6-3, 6-4 win for Tomic. The world No. 22 then battled past Stan Wawrinka’s conqueror, Fernando Verdasco, in a tight three-setter before once again having to go the distance versus dangerous grass-courter Gilles Muller.
Surprisingly, Raonic and Tomic have met only three times on tour. The pair first collided in 2014 at the Japan Open, with the Canadian easing to a 7-6(3), 6-3 win. They also squared off in the first week of this year in Brisbane, where the 25-year-old again came out on top in straight sets via a 7-6(5), 7-6(5) decision. Most recently, Raonic and Tomic faced each other in Indian Wells and it resulted in Raonic getting a retirement from his opponent while leading 6-2, 3-0 on his eventual way to a second career Masters 1000 final.
With the big serve of Raonic and the complex, slice-and-dice game of Tomic both translating beautifully to grass, this match is bound to be an intriguing one for London tennis fans. If Raonic can keep up the huge serving when it counts, he should make it through a competitive encounter. But with Tomic being the erratic player that he is, much depends on what level the underdog brings to the table. In the end, Raonic’s ability to bail himself out of key situations by winning free points with his serve should see him through to a first-ever Queen’s Club final.
Pick: Raonic in 3
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who ya got?
This weekend is at Bernie’s. Tomic to slice and dice the Canadian maple tree in two choppy sets.
oh dear
Milos in two
I thought it would be Milos in 2 and was very happy to be correct. He is a better player than Tomic and had that positive h2h. If he can play as well as he did in the AO before getting injured I think Milos has a real shot at this title, although obviously Andy has an amazing record at Queen’s.
I agree I think if this was somewhere else on grass I might say Raonic but with the crowd behind him I think Murray will come through.