September 30, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal
Canada’s Milos Raonic defeated the top-seeded Tomas Berdych 7-6(4), 6-3 at the Thailand Open on Sunday. Raonic hit 18 aces to beat Berdych in the finals en route to his fifth career title. Raonic upped his lifetime record over Berdych to 2-0 after also beating him in the Cincinnati Masters last year. Raonic is now just 180 points behind 10th-placed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Emirates ATP Race to London. Both Raonic and Tsonga are competing in Tokyo this week.
"I think I’m playing great tennis, I’m serving really well, I’m doing a lot of good things. If I keep that up I think I’ll have opportunities and will put myself in a good position, no matter who [I play]," Raonic said.
Raonic managed an early break in the second game to take a 2-0 lead in the second after Berdych netted two successive shots. At 5-3, Raonic produced another ace to set up a championship point before blasting a forehand winner to take the match.
"He was exceptional. He was serving really well and didn’t give me many chances," said Berdych of his opponent. "Basically, the match was about two points. Both of them Milos handled better and so he deserved to win."
