Andy Murray versus Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon men’s final on Sunday (9 a.m. ET on ESPN/WatchESPN) is hard to call as one of the game’s best defenders takes on a sensational server.
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Murray, who won the title in 2013, is aiming to reach his 11th major final.
Many had backed the Swiss 17-time Grand Slam victor to take his 18 title – and eighth at Wimbledon after Novak Djokovic’s early exit, and Federer did not disappoint.
With such a poor success rate in the finals, Murray will be eager to capitalise on the chance to face someone other than Djokovic, who surprisingly perished in the third round, or Federer in a title showdown.
Murray beat Raonic on grass three weeks ago in the Queen’s Club final after he was trailing the Canadian by a set and a break. “It gives actually a bit of extra confidence”, said Murray, reuniting with Lendl, “because I know last time we worked together, it was very successful”.
“This one clearly hurts, because I could have had it”.
“It was probably the most intense match I have ever seen Milos play”, McEnroe told the BBC.
“I’m aware I’ll have to play very well to win”.
“Hopefully, I’ll get over the line but I’m not scared to fail”.
That break put Raonic in firm control, and he stayed on top the rest of the set and served out the match at love. Federer has had a tough season so far, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open before pulling out of Rolland Garros due to a back injury. “I was struggling throughout the third and fourth sets, he was playing some really good tennis and just on a little opening I managed to turn it around and finish it off in a great match”, said the sixth seed.
Gordon Reid of Britain won the first men’s singles wheelchair title at Wimbledon, beating Stefan Olsson of Sweden 6-1, 6-4 in Sunday’s final on Court 17.
Federer stood five points from an awesome 11th final – and the 28th of his grand slam career – deep in the fourth set.
“He moves incredibly well, he returns well, those are his two biggest strengths”, Raonic said of his opponent.
With Raonic serving for the match at 5-3, Federer did not get a return in play until 40-0.
“With the body that’s been playing up this year, I just hope I’m going to be fine”. Eventually, Raonic took advantage of a soft volley to deliver a down-the-line backhand passing victor, breaking for the first time since the match’s fourth game – which ended with a double-fault by Federer – and sending the semifinal to a fifth set.
In a testament to Murray’s ability as a returner – a combination of timing and dexterity – it took Raonic 36 minutes and five service games to record his first ace.
With post-Brexit turmoil engulfing the nation’s political landscape, sterling plummeting and England’s soccer team licking its wounds after a Euro 2016 humiliation, old faithful Murray provided some cheer by reaching a third Wimbledon final yesterday. Raonic is listed as the underdog at +300 for Sunday. Over and over, Murray managed to get the ball back, even one that came in at 147 miles per hour.
Many would consider it an overdue debut appearance in a trophy match at a major, and it is an opportunity he is determined to seize upon.
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The All England Club has had doubles events for wheelchair players for a decade, but this is the first year for singles.
