Milos Raonic Sets Federer Clash;Verdasco, Cilic, Monfils Win Openers

Written by: Staff on 8th May 2012

Milos Raonic Sets Federer Clash;Verdasco, Cilic, Monfils Win Openers

epa03199323 Canadian tennis player Milos Raonic serves the ball to Spanish David Ferrer during the Conde Godo tennis tournament semifinal match played in Barcelona, northeastern Spain, 28 April 2012. Ferrer won 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5). EPA/ANDREU DALMAU |

Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/05/19/Madrid-Tuesday-Djokovic-In-Action.aspx)

World No. 23 Milos Raonic set an intriguing second-round clash with third seed Roger Federer at the Mutua Madrid Open after defeating David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday.

The Canadian is coming off an impressive week in Barcelona, where he defeated World No. 4 Andy Murray en route to the semi-finals, and will look to avenge the defeat he suffered to Federer in the Indian Wells third round.

The 21-year-old Raonic has continued his rise up the South African Airways ATP Rankings in 2012, winning two ATP World Tour titles in Chennai (d. Tipsarevic) and San Jose (d. Istomin). He has a 22-5 match record.

Spanish No. 15 seed Fernando Verdasco reached the second round as he defeated Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 7-5, 6-2. The Madrid native was a quarter-finalist at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament in 2009 (l. to Nadal). The 28-year-old Verdasco has enjoyed strong clay-court results this season, reaching the final in Acapulco (l. to Ferrer) and the semi-finals in Barcelona (l. to Nadal). He improved to a 16-9 match record.

Last week’s Munich runner-up Marin Cilic set up a second-round clash with eighth-seeded American John Isner as he defeated Spanish wild card Albert Montanes 6-3, 6-3 in 78 minutes.

Cilic’s victor in the BMW Open final, Philipp Kohlschreiber, did not fare so well. The German was beaten 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 by 12th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils, who reeled off 12 points in a row at the end to claim victory. Monfils was contesting his first match since the Sony Ericsson Open in March

Topics: 10sballs.com, Cilic, David Nalbandian, Fernando Verdasco, Gael Monfils, Madrid Mutua Open, milos raonic, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis