Murray Downs Raonic to Win Queen’s Club; Keys Triumphs in Birmingham
American Madison Keys won the second title of her career on Sunday, downing Barbora Strycova 6-4, 6-3 to capture the Aegon Classic championship.
Despite playing a number of three-set matches throughout the week while Strycova had lost just one set in her week, Keys was the one who came out with more energy in Sunday’s final. She opened up with a 3-0 lead in the first set and never looked back on her way to the 6-4 first set victory.
Strycova hung tough in the second set, and a had a chance to break for a 5-3 lead and an opportunity to serve for the set. But Keys was too good on this day, holding off that break point and winning the set’s final three games to win the title in straight sets.
“I think I got off to a good start in the first set breaking early. I think I held onto that lead pretty well,” said Keys. “Then in the second set, she definitely raised her level. There was definitely a couple of games, especially when I was serving, that I really had to dig deep and figure it out. Luckily I was able to.”
With her run in Birmingham, Keys now cracks into the top 10, moving up six spots into 10th in the world.
Elsewhere on the WTA tour, sixth-seed Caroline Garcia captured the title at the Mallorca Open, defeating Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-4.
Playing in his first tournament since rehiring Ivan Lendl to join his coaching staff, Andy Murray outlasted Milos Raonic in a hard-fought three set battle, fighting back from a set down to win 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 to capture the fifth Queen’s Club championship of his career.
“I had no chances on his serve at all. I hadn’t created any break points,” said Murray of his slow start. “Then along came a few good returns and changed the match completely. When you have not been broken for a whole tournament and then you lose serve, it can throw you off a little bit. I capitalized on pretty much all the chances I had from there on in.
My best tennis is there. I’m happy with that. I didn’t come in, like I said, with hardly any preparation so maybe consistency could be better. But when I needed to this week, I stepped up and played my best tennis.”
