After last week winning his first ATP title at San Jose, this afternoon Raonic beat Mardy Fish 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to advance to the Memphis final. Only breaking on the scene last month at the Australian Open by reaching the round of 16, Raonic seemingly has no weaknesses. His serve is a monster. He batters forehand and two-handed backhand winners from the back court, and has variety with a slice backhand that is at his height is like playing ping pong. He is aggressive and doesn’t hesitant to push in and end the point at the net. His return of serve is big. His volley is solid. He hammered 23 aces on Fish. This kid is a nightmare for anyone he faces. Ask Top 10er Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco, who lost to Raonic in the San Jose finals, then lost to him again a couple days later in the first round at Memphis.

Quality falls off the table after Sharapova and Oudin — Barrois seeded? Ouch; (1) Sharapova opens against resurgent American Shenay Perry (who had to sit out Fed Cup last weekend with injury) and could face another American in the second round in Mattek-Sands

“John McEnroe turns 50 tomorrow — it’s incredible how well this guy still plays,” Sampras said following the match. “I’m in awe of it actually. At 50, it’s amazing to move that well. It’s pretty incredible.” McEnroe beat Sampras last year en route to the Boston title. Todd Martin won the third-place match when Jim Courier pulled out with a bad back.

MEMPHIS MOVING?: The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that a deal to sell the combined ATP/WTA event to keep it in the city fell through, and now the event could be sold to outside interests who could move the event (see: Middle East, Asia, the usual suspects — goodbye to another U.S. event).