Resurgent Raonic Into Cincinnati Semis

August 19, 2016 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: Brian Coleman

Milos Raonic of Canada continued his strong 2016, rattling off a 6-3, 6-4 win Friday over Dominic Thiem to advance to the semifinals of the 2016 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. Raonic, the number four seed in Cincinnati, is making his sixth consecutive appearance in Cincinnati and his second semifinals appearance, having also advanced this far back in 2014.  

Up next for Raonic is the winner of Friday evening’s match between Olympic Gold Medalist Andy Murray of Great Britain and Australian Bernard Tomic. Raonic, in search of his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, is 4-0 lifetime against Tomic and holds a 3-7 lifetime record against Murray, with the Canadian dropping the last six matches to the Olympic Gold Medal winner.

Also moving into the semis in Cincinnati is Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, a 7-6(8), 6-2 winner over American Steve Johnson. Up next for Dimitrov is the 12th-seeded Marin Cilic who advanced Borna Coric retired due to a knee injury after dropping the first set 6-2.

"As soon as I came out to play that second set, I felt a little bit more relaxed and a little bit more confident," said Dimitrov of his match with Johnson. "I was looking more for his serve and waiting in a different spot, so that helped a lot."

Johnson was coming into Cincinnati hot off a run at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio where he captured the Bronze Medal in Men’s Doubles with partner Jack Sock. 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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