Raonic opens in Basel with win, Wawrinka upset by Kukushkin

“I really just stuck around in that first set,” the Canadian said, referencing the fact that he served at just 41 percent in the opening frame of play and had to save one break point while generating no chances against Johnson’s serve. “I made the most of my opportunities in the tiebreak. I felt I was getting a little bit better and better. Obviously I need to get significantly better for my next match, but I feel like I’m on the right track.”

Raonic interview:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vigCNpoU9dI]

Stan Wawrinka is not on the right track to London at the moment, but the good news for the Swiss is that he has already clinched a spot. Wawrinka’s slump, which also includes opening losses in Tokyo and Shanghai, fell to Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3. It was the second top-10 victory over Kukushkin’s career.

Kukushkin interview:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypm7FGVCwIE]

Other winners in Basel were Vasek Pospisil, Benjamin Becker, Kenny De Schepper, Ivo Karlovic, and Ivan Dodig.

Two seeds went down at the Valencia Open, with John Isner being ousted by Tommy Robredo 7-6(3), 6-3 and Gilles Simon getting blown out by Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-0, 6-3. For the most part it was a stellar day for the host nation. Joining Robredo in the second round were fellow Spaniards Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez. Verdasco got past an in-form Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Great point between Verdasco and Mayer:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8YriPwGDrI]