Raonic shows improvement in win over Benneteau
Posted February 11, 2012 12:38 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER – Familiar opponent, different result.
Milos Raonic brought Canada level with France in the Davis Cup World Group tie on Friday, defeating Julien Benneteau in straight sets 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 at the University of British Columbia’s Thunderbird Sports Centre.
On paper, perhaps it was expected that Raonic, ranked No. 29 in the world, would beat the 35th ranked Frenchman, but surely not so comprehensively, especially given their meeting three months ago.
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The Thornhill, Ont., native faced Benneteau in November in the Paris Masters Series, and was sent crashing out of that tournament 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-4.
“I’ve developed as a player,” Raonic told reporters following his comprehensive win. “I’ve done a lot of work in the offseason that’s come together the right way. Obviously I think my return is the biggest thing that’s improved in this offseason. Last year, maybe not right after my (hip) surgery at the end of the year, but in the beginning of the year I was taking care of my serve.
“Obviously I’m doing that and I’m a much better returner so I can create even more pressure – it’s all coming together well.”
Taking care of the serve indeed. The 21-year-old was dominant over Benneteau in that category, making 27 aces to his opponent’s seven.
The win was particularly important given teammate Vasek Pospisil’s loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the tie’s first match on Friday, but Raonic was adamant that didn’t add any pressure.
“I don’t think that matters at all,” Raonic said of the 1-0 deficit he faced going in. “Just like in a match, if you lose the first set, you keep fighting. I do that on my own, and I think that’s what we do as a team. We’re there until the last point is played, as a player, as a team and as a structure you don’t give up.
“So many things can change in tennis – there’s so many momentum swings – anything can happen.”
Now 1-1 after the first two rubbers, the teams prepare for Saturday’s doubles match where it’s expected that Benneteau and Michael Llodra will take on doubles legend Daniel Nestor, playing his 40th Davis Cup match, and Pospisil.
That could change though.
“We have good options on the table,” Canada captain Martin Laurendeau explained. “We have three good players that can play doubles, and either formation is going to make a great team for us, led by Daniel Nestor. We’re going to see how the bodies are feeling. The guys still have some treatment and regeneration to do and we’ll make the best decision possible when we evaluate all the variables at play.”
Ultimately, it’s what the Canadian coach expected from day one of the tie.
“The two No. 1s took care of business today, for either country,” Laurendeau said. “I thought Tsonga played a flawless match and Milos seemed in the zone on the serve and everything was flowing very nicely. Both No. 1’s had a win and that’s where we’re at. We’re going to enjoy this win by Milos, but very shortly we’ll be looking forward to tomorrow.”
