ATP: Raonic in Indian Wells semi-final: Canadian serve giant returns

Milos Raonic reached the semi-finals of a Masters 1000 event at the ATP tournament in Indian Wells for the ninth time in his career. The former Wimbledon finalist beat Sam Querrey 7-5, 2-6 and 6-3.

Querrey was able to take Raonic off the serve right at the start and then pulled away quite effortlessly to 5:3. When it was time to get out of the car, however, the US-American’s nerves fluttered. Raonic made good use of the momentum: with a crashing backhand return winner, the former third in the world rankings took the first run.

That after numerous injuries to the Indian Wells finalist in 2016, constancy is still missing could be observed in the second act. Four double mistakes and two service losses of the Canadian resulted in the final set.

There Raonic had a lot under control again: With a forehand inside-out the 27-year-old set 5:3. Despite problems with the last service game, he turned his second match point after one hour and 52 minutes with a placed forehand.

In the round of the last four, Goran Ivanisevic’s new protégé will face the winner of the game between Juan Martin del Potro and Philipp Kohlschreiber. Raonic had only won the season before his appearance in the Californian desert.

Here the single tableau of the men in Indian Wells