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SPORTSMonday 11 January 2016
Raonic wins Brisbane title, reversing 2015 result v Federer
JOHN PYE Milos Raonic of Canada reacts after winning his men’s final points to put him on course starts Jan. 18.
AP Sports Writer match against Roger Federer of Switzerland 6-4, 6-4 during the for the win. “The good thing is the off-
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Federer, who went 6-5 in season was great. I have a
Milos Raonic got one back Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016. finals in 2015 — with all base there,” Federer said,
on Roger Federer to start five losses coming to top- “so I think within three, four
the new season. After los- (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard) ranked Novak Djokovic days I should be back at
ing coach Ivan Ljubicic to — struggled earlier in the 100 percent.”
the Federer camp leading Ljubicic and finished out of I will face going in Mel- week with lingering flu-like The match was on serve
into 2016, Raonic achieved the top 10. bourne, you know, I’ve got symptoms, but improved until the ninth game when
something nobody else “It does great things — it my stuff back together and with four matches in four Federer served a double-
born in the 1990s has man- signifies within the team I can play some good ten- days, including wins over fault to give Raonic a
aged to do against the 17- how concrete and good nis again.” Grigor Dimitrov in the quar- breakpoint chance and
time major winner — beat the work we’re doing is,” Raonic attacked top-seed- terfinals and Dominic Thiem then netted a forehand.
him twice. Raonic said of his win. “At ed Federer with his boom- in the semis. Raonic served out the first
The 25-year-old Canadian the same time, with the dif- ing serve and forehand, as He started strongly, add- set, but needed a medical
broke Federer’s serve once ficulties I’ve had last year, expected, but also went to ing some power to his serve timeout for treatment on
in each set of a 6-4, 6-4 win it’s maybe a good way for the net 13 times in the first and trying to work the taller his right leg three games
on Sunday night in the Bris- me to show the other guys set and won 10 of those Raonic around the court, into the second.
bane International decider, but couldn’t make the He fired a succession of
reversing the outcome of strategy pay off. Federer double-faults in the next
their meeting in last year’s said Raonic had expanded game, giving Federer a
final at the Australian Open the dimensions of his game breakpoint opportunity,
warmup tournament. and was tactically more but managed to hold to
Ljubicic was in Federer’s astute than he had been in level the set at 2-2. In the
corner for the final. Carlos previous seasons. next game, after leading
Moya, who will join Raonic’s Raonic “did well. It was a 30-0, Federer gave Ra-
coaching crew, doesn’t ar- tough match — (my) legs onic another breakpoint
rive in Australia until next were a little bit wobbly,” Fe- chance when he skewed
week. derer said. “Still, considering just wide with a forehand
He’s got a good base to the week I’ve had, I’m ac- down the line and then
work off, starting with Raon- tually quite happy. That’s
ic’s eighth career title and why I’m not down or any- conceded the break when
only his second win in 11 thing or disappointed. “If I
matches against Federer. would’ve known I would’ve he netted a backhand.
It was a boost coming off a made the finals five days
troubled end to 2015, when ago I would’ve been unbe- Raonic didn’t have any
Raonic missed the last lievably happy.”
three weeks with a back Federer planned to head trouble holding from there,
problem, having missed to Melbourne and rest for
the French Open earlier in a few days before getting and wrapped up the
the season with a foot in- into his fine-tuning for the
jury, parted company with Australian Open, which match in 1 hour, 27 min-
On the Green: utes.
Stone claims maiden Euro Tour victory at SA Open “Hopefully, a better year
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Christiaan Bezuidenhout. in the end to hold off Be- that momentum. this year than last,” said
Brandon Stone won the Stone finished 14 under par zuidenhout’s late charge. Stone only claimed his first
South African Open on at Glendower Golf Club in Bezuidenhout finished with professional victory late last Raonic, who reached
Sunday for his maiden Euro- a tournament that was in- a superb 5-under 67 to year on the South African
pean Tour title, becoming terrupted by stormy weath- nearly steal victory at the Sunshine Tour. the quarterfinals at the
the youngest player to win er, forcing the first three end. Englishman Daniel He appeared to have
the event since it joined the rounds to be suspended Brooks, who was tied for the blown his chances at Glen- last Australian Open but
tour schedule in 1997. and carried over to the fol- lead with Stone when the dower with a run of three
The 22-year-old South Af- lowing day. third round was suspended straight bogeys and four didn’t progress past the
rican finished with a roller- Stone was in tears after on Saturday, closed with dropped shots in five holes
coaster round of 71 that completing victory at golf’s a 72 to finish 11 under and approaching the turn on third round at Wimbledon
had seven birdies and also second oldest national three shots behind Stone Sunday. He shrugged that
six bogeys, but it was still open after the British Open. in third. Brooks held a two- off to collect four birdies in or the U.S. Open after skip-
enough for a two-shot win He held a five-shot lead at shot lead with nine holes five holes from No. 12 and
over fellow home player one point but had to fight to play, but couldn’t keep finished par-par to win. ping the French Open with
injury. “It was tough. To see
myself slip a little bit, even
though I knew it was not
necessarily strictly to my
tennis level but outside
things, those things were
hard to accept ... and in
some ways also depressing
to deal with.
“Every single year until now
my ranking had been go-
ing up. That’s the thing I
was most proud of. To see
that slip was hard to ac-
cept and also very moti-
vating.”
