MEN’S TENNIS TOUR NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. AND KITZBUHEL: RAONIC AND GOFFIN TAKE TITLES BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 3rd August 2014

Citi Open Tennis Tournament in Washington, DC.

MEN'S TENNIS TOUR NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. AND KITZBUHEL: RAONIC AND GOFFIN TAKE TITLES BY RICKY DIMON

epa04340152 Milos Raonic of Canada celebrates with the trophy after defeating Vasek Pospisil of Canada during their final singles match at the Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, DC, USA, 03 August 2014. EPA/PETE MAROVICH |

We are into the final few weeks leading up to the U.S. Open and almost nobody has more momentum than Milos Raonic and David Goffin. Raonic followed up his Wimbledon semifinal showing with a title on Sunday in Washington, D.C. Goffin is on a streak of 20 consecutive match wins and he captured his first career ATP title on Saturday in Kitzbuhel.

Washington, D.C. summary

The first-ever all-Canadian final on the ATP Tour saw Raonic blow past Vasek Pospisil 6-1, 6-4. Raonic, who dropped serve only once all week at the Citi Open, faced only one break point while firing nine aces and winning 26 of 28 first-serve points. He broke serve three times in the first set and again when it mattered most in the second, with Pospisil serving at 4-5. Raonic converted championship point with a perfect backhand passing shot.

Vasek Pospisil of Canada returns a shot to Milos Raonic of Canada during their final singles match at the Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, DC, USA, 03 August 2014. EPA/PETE MAROVICH

It was still a great week for Pospisil, who took out No. 1 seed Tomas Berdych and sixth-seeded Richard Gasquet en route to the final. Donald Young also made an impressive run, going all the way to the semifinals by defeating Yuichi Sugita, Julien Benneteau, Denis Istomin, and Kevin Anderson before succumbing to Raonic. In addition to Young, fellow American Steve Johnson also accounted for himself quite well. Johnson upset John Isner and Ivo Karlovic in consecutive third-set tiebreakers to reach the quarterfinals before also going down to Raonic.

Kitzbuhel summary

Goffin is now 20-0 since Wimbledon after getting the best of Dominic Thiem 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 to lift the bet-at-home Cup trophy. The 23-year-old Belgian had won three consecutive Challenger titles, but this time around he accomplished a much bigger feat against much better competition. Goffin’s Kitzbuhel run also included scalps of Kenny De Schepper, No. 1 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, Paolo Lorenzi, and Maximo Gonzalez.

David Goffin of Belgium poses with his trophy after beating Dominic Thiem of Austria in their final match at the ATP tennis tournament in Kitzbuehel, Austria, 02 August 2014. Goffin won 4-6, 6-1 and 6-3. EPA/EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

Thiem treated the home crowd in Austria to a memorable week, but that almost wasn’t the case. Joao Souza gave Thiem a serious scare in round one only to see the 20-year-old survive 7-6(4), 3-6, 7-5. Thiem also ousted second-seeded Marcel Granollers along the way to the final. Gonzalez, who had to qualify for the main draw, eliminated seeds Pablo Carreno Busta and Lukas Rosol before ending Goffin’s consecutive sets won streak at 36. Gonzalez’s fellow Argentine Juan Monaco also advanced to the semifinals before getting blown out by Thiem.

Rankings watch

Raonic will climb to a career-high ranking (tied) of No. 6 in the world thanks to his Washington, D.C. title, passing David Ferrer. The Canadian has runner-up points to defend coming up in Toronto.

Pospisil is set to move up nine spots to 27th by virtue of his runner-up performance in Washington, D.C. He has semifinal points to defend in Toronto.

Young will soar 23 places to No. 50 after his semifinal showing in Washington, D.C. He will become the second-ranked American behind Isner, edging out Johnson for that distinction. Johnson will move from 68th to 54th as the third-ranked American ahead of Jack Sock.

Santiago Giraldo reached the Washington, D.C. quarterfinals and will improve his ranking four notches to No. 30. The Colombian is now in position to be seeded for the U.S. Open.

Goffin’s Kitzbuhel title will launch him 30 positions to 48th in the world. The Belgian was outside the Top 100 as recently as Wimbledon.

The fast-rising Thiem will climb seven spots to No. 43, good for yet another career-high ranking. Thiem began the season at 139th in the world.

Gonzalez will power his way into the top 100, up 23 places to No. 83, after his semifinal finish in Kitzbuhel. Continuing a commendable comeback from knee problems, Gonzalez was as low as 383rd in the world as recently as last June.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Atp, David Goffin, Dominic Thiem, Kitzbühel, milos raonic, Richard Gasquet, Ricky Dimon, Tennis, Tomas Berdych, Vasek Pospisil, Washington DC

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

August 3, 2014 at 7:30 pm

MEN’S #TENNIS TOUR NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. AND #KITZBUHEL: @milosraonic AND GOFFIN TAKE TITLES BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/Sw6xSnSkKz
RD_Tennistalk says:

August 3, 2014 at 7:34 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: MEN’S #TENNIS TOUR NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. AND #KITZBUHEL: @milosraonic AND GOFFIN TAKE TITLES BY @RD_Tennistalk- http…