The Scot produced a stunning comeback to find a way past the big serving Canadian to record a 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3 triumph in London.
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Following runner-up finishes at the year’s first two majors in Melbourne and Paris, Murray will now hope his decision to rehire Lendl will allow him to add to the two grand slam titles he won during his first stint with the Czech-born great. His previous titles came in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Murray said that passing the illustrious four-times Queen’s Club champions of the modern era, John McEnroe (who was in Raonic’s box as his temporary grasscourt adviser), Roy Emerson, Lleyton Hewitt and Boris Becker, “feels good”.
The second edition of the collaboration between Andy Murray and Ivan Lendl could not have started better.
“It was nice of Ivan to stick around for the presentation!” Next week is good, we get to spend four or five days on the court working together, working hard, trying to get better before Wimbledon starts. The crucial first break came after a magnificent backhand victor directly from Raonic’s serve, giving him the impetus to streak ahead in the second set. Having earned a first set point on the Murray serve in the tie-break, Raonic produced a powerful backhand that his opponent could only defend at the net, before ripping a forehand victor to the home hope’s right.
“Coming out here to try and win for the fifth time I was really motivated”, said Murray.
“It was frustrating to be down, but my serve helped me out a lot in the last two sets”. “I know right now I’m obviously playing at a good level”, he said. 2 now sets his sights on his most important event of the year at Wimbledon where he will open his quest for a second title a week from today.
“I’ll take it home, and hopefully have something to celebrate in a few weeks”, he said. “I’ll keep it for after Wimbledon”. “It always has a great field and the players I have beaten in the finals have been top players”.
“He’s (Andy Murray) much quieter and his energy is very different from mine but that part of it (temper) is very similar”, McEnroe told British media of Murray, who has also been guilty of muttering curses during his matches.
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Raonic looked to have a 4-1 lead in the second set, only for Hawk-Eye to overrule a volley on game point, and Murray took charge from then on.
