RAONIC IMPROVES LONDON CHANCES, FEDERER AND NADAL IN ACTION ON WEDNESDAY IN BASEL BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 21st October 2014

RAONIC IMPROVES LONDON CHANCES, FEDERER AND NADAL IN ACTION ON WEDNESDAY IN BASEL BY RICKY DIMON

epa04456409 Canada's Milos Raonic serves a ball to USA's Steve Johnson during their first round match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 21 October 2014. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS |

Milos Raonic, currently in 10th in the race for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, picked up a much-needed win in the first round of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Tuesday. Raonic, who had dropped his opening matches in both Shanghai and Moscow in part due to a virus, fought past Steve Johnson 7-6(4), 6-4 in one hour and 30 minutes.

“I really just stuck around in that first set,” the Canadian said, referencing the fact that he served at just 41 percent in the opening frame of play and had to save one break point while generating no chances against Johnson’s serve. “I made the most of my opportunities in the tiebreak. I felt I was getting a little bit better and better. Obviously I need to get significantly better for my next match, but I feel like I’m on the right track.”

Stan Wawrinka is not on the right track to London at the moment, but the good news for the Swiss is that he has already clinched a spot. Wawrinka’s slump, which also includes opening losses in Tokyo and Shanghai, fell to Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3. It was the second top-10 victory over Kukushkin’s career.

Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka in action against Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin during their first round match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 21 October 2014. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS

Other winners in Basel were Vasek Pospisil, Benjamin Becker, Kenny De Schepper, Ivo Karlovic, and Ivan Dodig.

Roger Federer will kick off his campaign on Wednesday. The world No. 2 is bidding for his first Basel title since 2011 following consecutive runner-up finishes to Juan Martin Del Potro. Federer is 51-9 lifetime at this event with five career winner’s trophies and he is in good shape to bag another one, coming off a title-winning run in Shanghai that included a semifinal scalp of Novak Djokovic.

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after defeating Gilles Simon of France in their final match of the Shanghai Tennis Masters in Shanghai, China, 12 October 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

Up first for Federer is Gilles Muller, against whom the 17-time Grand Slam champion is 4-0 lifetime. They have not faced each other on a hard court since the quarterfinals of the 2008 U.S. Open, a match won by Federer 7-6(5), 6-4, 7-6(5). Their most recent encounter came this summer at Wimbledon, where the Swiss scored a 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 victory.

Rafael Nadal will contest his second-round match on Wednesday after cruising past Simone Bolelli 6-2, 6-2 in his Monday opener. It was the Spaniard’s first career match victory in his third appearance in Basel. Up next for Nadal is 23-year-old Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who qualified for the main draw then edged compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(3).

Spain’s Rafael Nadal cheers after winning his first round match against Italy’s Simone Bolelli at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 20 October 2014. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS

Briefs

* Raonic wins Basel opener, could pass Ferrer for No. 9 in race even with loss in next round.

* Kukushkin upsets Wawrinka, guarantees place in top 80.

* Becker takes out Elias, needs one more victory for top 40.

* De Schepper downs Delbonis, soars near top 100 but needs one more win to enter.

* Karlovic bests Rosol, in position for top 30 but could be edged out.

* Verdasco beats Mayer in Valencia, must reach semifinals for top 30 chance.

* Dolgopolov eases past Simon, will pass Kohlschreiber and Gasquet for 22nd with quarterfinal.

* Robredo defeats Isner, must reach quarterfinals for top 20.

* Lajovic kicks off Valencia campaign with win, storms into top 60.

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

Topics: Atp, London, milos raonic, Rafael Nadal, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

October 21, 2014 at 5:01 pm

@milosraonic IMPROVES LONDON CHANCES @rogerfederer AND @RafaelNadal IN ACTION ON WEDNESDAY IN BASEL BY @RD_Tennistalk http://t.co/ysUxgG9Que
RD_Tennistalk says:

October 21, 2014 at 6:01 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: @milosraonic IMPROVES LONDON CHANCES @rogerfederer AND @RafaelNadal IN ACTION ON WEDNESDAY IN BASEL BY @RD_Tennistalk htt…