For the first time since 2002, the Wimbledon singles final will be without Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic. Instead, Andy Murray will battle first-time Grand Slam finalist Milos Raonic for the title on Sunday. Raonic has survived five-setters in two of his last three matches.
Andy Murray and Milos Raonic will be squaring off for the 10th time in their careers and for the fourth time this season when they battle for the Wimbledon title on Sunday afternoon.
Murray is leading the head-to-head series 6-3 after once trailing it 3-1. The Scot’s five-match winning streak at Raonic’s expense includes a flawless 3-0 mark in 2016. Murray prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 in the Australian Open semifinals, 6-2, 6-0 on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo, and 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 in the recent Queen’s Club championship match. Their first-ever grass-court meeting saw Raonic lead by a set and a break only squander all of his advantage by losing four of his last eight service games.
“I got sucked into his game,” the Canadian said of their Queen’s Club contest. “I didn’t play on my terms.”
“I don’t know what that means,” Murray responded when told of Raonic’s assessment. “I don’t know what I was doing to suck him into my style of play. I don’t know. I generally don’t know what it is I do.”
What Murray generally does is win, and that is exactly what he has been doing ever since losing last month’s French Open final to Novak Djokovic. The two-time major champion is a perfect 11-0 on grass with victories this fortnight over Liam Broady, Yen-Hsun Lu, John Millman, Nick Kyrgios, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Tomas Berdych. Tsonga pushed Murray to five sets after dropping the first two, but Murray’s other five outings en route to Sunday were straight-set beatdowns.
Raonic, meanwhile, has required two five-setters along the way. The world No. 7 even trailed David Goffin by two sets to love during fourth-round action on Monday but roared back to get the job done 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Roger Federer had Raonic on the ropes to an even greater extent in Friday’s first semifinal, but the underdog staved off a handful of seemingly virtual match points before triumphing 6-3, 6-7(3), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in three hours and 25 minutes. Raonic’s trek through the All-England Club also includes routine wins over Pablo Carreno Busta, Andreas Seppi, Jack Sock, and Sam Querrey.
“Milos is a very tough opponent,” Murray assured. “He’s played very well on the grass this year and has earned his right to the final by beating one of the best, if not the best player ever, at this event. So he deserves to be there.”
“Andy is one of the premier workaholics, let’s say,” Raonic noted. “He’s given himself a lot of opportunity through that. I think he tries to sort of get you doing a lot of different things. He’ll try to throw you off, give you some slower balls, some harder balls, all these kinds of things. I guess my goal is to keep him away from that, play it on my terms, be aggressive, not hesitate.”
The sixth seed knows what he must do in order to be successful, but executing the plan is easier said than done against one of the best returners in tennis. Murray’s ability to return serve and his overall outstanding defense has owned Raonic of late and there is no reason to think the trend will suddenly end under these circumstances. The world No. 2 has already contested two Wimbledon finals and won in his second appearance three years ago. Raonic, on the other hand, is competing in a slam final for the first time in his career.
A vast majority of the British fans left the Federer-Raonic semifinal showdown unhappy after sitting through it for more than three hours. They won’t have to wait as long to go home ecstatic on Sunday.
Pick: Murray in 3
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I can’t believe a post only about Murray and Raonic includes a discussion revolving around Federer, just let it go already.
#tennis
Murray in 4.
The overwhelming prediction seems to be Murray in four , but I’m going to go Murray in five. As at the AO, when Milos could arguably have won, and their Queens final also.
If it goes to 5 sets it’s anyone’s match IMO
big advantage for Murray if it goes 5
Just like it was big advantage to Fed?
no, Federer almost never has an advantage in a 5-set match
If it goes 5 sets, it’s, 50/50. Raonic will not win in 3 or 4, Murray’s too good. He’s best chance is in 5.
yeah his best chance is in 5 because he is a far inferior player. that doesn’t mean he has an advantage in a 5-setter.
So Murray has a “big” advantage in every set?
in my opinion yes. And it becomes increasingly big with each set.
I disagree, if it goes to 5 sets that means there’s little separating them, Raonic has handled the occasion and the adrenalin and the moment increase his chances. Final post. 🙂
I mean you obviously increase your OVERALL chances if you at 2 sets all instead of down 2 sets to love. I’m talking about the chances of winning an INDIVIDUAL set by itself. Raonic’s worst chance would be a 5th.
Hope the roof remains open.
it is
I really hope that Murray can win this time. He’s got the crowd behind him all the way.
BP saved
Raonic is going for it in the early going. Trying to be very aggressive.
Andy holds.
Easy hold for Raonic who is doing some serving and volleying to follow up the big serve.
Some great first serves to give Andy the easy hold.
Andy with an opening at 0-30 after a cc backhand winner. Double break point for Andy!
Oh, the shot was wide open for him and he over hit it!
Andy gets the break!
first set to Andy
That’s confidence in Andy!
Oops! Deuce!
Big serve from Andy for Ad.
Clutch serving and Andy holds.
Murray is feeling it now.
15-30
Raonic holds. Andy to serve for the first set.
Murray gets the first set!
ESPN commies said that Murray only lost 7 points on his serve!
and I’m also still confused by your Federer comment
Murray saves BP
set Murray
Raonic isn’t really serving with the same venom he did the other day!
Murray is making it look like that too. he is a far better returner than Federer.
Muzz is a great returner, agreed.
But Milos isn’t really serving 140mph serves into Muzz’s body.
What federer comment?
Mark’s
Raonic saves virtual MP
Here we go. TB coming up. 🙁
Murray needs that first serve now.
Unbelievable get from Murray. Murray is doing everything right.
Raonic is not handling the moment.
Murray was so focused on that TB. He took control early and that was it.
Murray’s cc backhand has done s lot of damage in this match. Serve has been great, too. Also, Murray’s ROS has made a big difference.
Good serving by Murray; set two to Murray and he’s 2 sets to 0.murray is playing really well!
Wasn’t expecting that. Thought Raonic was bound to take it. Murray is on fire. Yeah.