Top seed Milos Raonic overcame wet conditions at the Delray Beach Open to see of Croatia’s Borna Coric 6-3, 7-6(2), in the second round.
The top seed used his trustive serve to help him maintain a stronghold in the match, firing 12 aces and winning 89% of his first service points. Despite the promising performance, there are still areas of the his game that the Canadian intends to improve, such as his average 52% second service rate.
Raonic’s only blip in an otherwise straightforward win occurred at the start of the second set. Breaking Coric immediately, the world No.4 got a taste of his own medicine when he was broken to love in the following game. Nevertheless, Raonic’s firepower guided him out of danger as he clinched the straight sets win.
“He tried to be a bit more aggressive, I got that early break and I had a lop-sided game with a couple of doubles [faults], couple of mistakes, that I’d be disappointed with normally,” Raonic said. “If I can get myself ahead a break it’s where my strength lies so I’m happy I managed to keep it together since then and managed to pull it out in two.
“It worked out well. I have 36 hours now to recover and that’s what the focus is going to be on. I’ll practise, I need practice.”
Awaiting the top seed in the quarterfinals will be British rising star Kyle Edmund. The world No.49 required three sets to see off Yen-Hsun Lu 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, to reach his second ATP quarterfinal of the season after the Brisbane International.
Jack Sock’s campaign to return back inside the world’s top 20 is gaining momentum after he breezed past Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4, 6-1. The world No.21 successfully fended off all seven break points that he faced.
“I felt like I executed what I was trying to do pretty well and was able to get through in straights,” Sock reflected after his win.
“I felt good out there. It’s definitely nice to get this one under the belt and have a full day (off) tomorrow (Thursday) to hit some balls and recharge.”
The third seed will next embark on an all-American clash against Steve Johnson, who dismissed Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4, 6-1. Last month Johnson reached the semifinals at the Auckland Open, but has candidly admitted that he is yet to play ‘his best tennis’ this season.
“I still feel like I haven’t played my best tennis yet this year,” Johnson said. “So I’m just kind of excited to keep building and keep trying to get better and better every tournament.”
Thursday’s order of play
@JotaYQue here ya go! pic.twitter.com/awkItRUBPd
— Delray Beach Open (@DelrayBeachOpen) 23 February 2017
