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Milos Raonic picked up his first Top 10 win since 2017 Brisbane, topping World No. 4 Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to the third round at the Madrid Masters on Tuesday.
Raonic had lost his last six to Top 10s since upsetting Rafael Nadal at the start of last year in Brisbane and hadn’t beaten Dimitrov since 2011, saved a break point at 3-all then broke to gain the final edge.
“I played well. Created a lot of opportunities, made the most of a few of them,” Raonic said. “Overall a very positive level and a positive performance for me.
“I’m trying to move forward. That’s where I can do my best. That’s where I can give myself the best opportunity to win,” Raonic said. “I’m happy with that. I’m happy with the fact that I was able to execute and serve well.”
Since the start of Dubai, Dimitrov is just 6-6.
Raonic’s win moves him into a tasty Canadian showdown against swashbuckling Denis Shapovalov who edged Benoit Paire 6-4 in the third.
Indian Wells champion Juan Martin del Potro opened his 2018 clay campaign by taking out Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-3.
“I was playing well out there,” said Del Potro. “That gives me confidence towards the next match.” And next in the third round will be first-time meeting with Dusan Lajovic who upset Richard Gasquet.
“[Lajovic] won a really good match against Gasquet. On clay he’s a very powerful player. He plays a very intelligent game. It’s going to be a tough match, as all of the matches on clay for me. I will just try to play a little bit better than today,” said Del Potro. “I will try to be concentrated, focused, and I’ll try to stay in control of the match.”
In first round play, Roberto Bautista Agut, Borna Coric, Fernando Verdasco and Pablo Cuevas were all winners. And Robin Haase sent out Hyeon Chung. Verdasco’s win over Paolo Lorenzi was his 500th of his career.
On the Wednesday ticket, Rafael Nadal opens play against flying Frenchman Gael Monfils. “Gael is a tough opponent for everybody,” Nadal said. “He’s a player with a lot of talent, with a lot of potential. He’s a tough opponent, of course.”
Novak Djokovic also returns to take on Brit No. 1 Kyle Edmund and Alexander Zverev looks to keep his recent surge going against Evgeny Donskoy.
WEDNESDAY MADRID SCHEDULE
Manolo Santana Starts At 12:00 Noon
3rd Rd 1 Simona Halep VS (Q)Kristyna Pliskova
Not Before 2:00 Pm
2nd Rd Kyle Edmund VS 10 Novak Djokovic
Not Before 4:00 Pm
2nd Rd 1 Rafael Nadal VS Gael Monfils
Not Before 8:00 Pm
3rd Rd 3 Garbiñe Muguruza VS 14 Daria Kasatkina
Not Before 9:30 Pm
2nd Rd (Q)Evgeny Donskoy VS 2 Alexander Zverev
Arantxa Sanchez Starts At 12:00 Noon
2nd Rd 11Roberto Bautista Agut VS Philipp Kohlschreiber
Not Before 2:00 Pm
3rd Rd 9 Sloane Stephens VS 6 Karolina Pliskova
Not Before 4:00 Pm
2nd Rd Feliciano Lopez VS 13 Diego Schwartzman
Not Before 6:00 Pm
3rd Rd Maria Sharapova VS Kristina Mladenovic
Not Before 8:00 Pm
2nd Rd (Q)Federico Delbonis VS 5 Dominic Thiem
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