BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA ¨C An inspired Milos Raonic toppled Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 to win the Brisbane International on Sunday and avenge his defeat to the Swiss master in last year¡¯s final.
Raonic unleashed his usual serving blitz but it was the rangy Canadian¡¯s groundstrokes that impressed the most as he outwitted the Swiss with a masterful display of clean hitting from the baseline.
Federer, irrepressible in his semifinal win over Dominic Thiem, was off-color from the start at Pat Rafter Arena and his 25-year-old opponent feasted repeatedly on his wayward backhand.
Beaten in three tight sets last year, Raonic won at a canter in the rematch to clinch his eighth tour title and complete the perfect buildup to his bid for a maiden Grand Slam at the Australian Open starting later this month.
Closing out the match with a booming first serve that Federer could only parry long, Raonic roared in triumph, having beaten the 17-time Grand Slam champion for only the second time in 11 encounters.
He accepted the winner¡¯s trophy from 77-year-old Australian great Rod Laver, the only player to complete the calendar Grand Slam twice.
¡°Hopefully (we have) a better year this year than the last,¡± Raonic said in his victory speech, delivering a message of peace.
¡°I hope in 2016 we learn to love each other a little bit more and the world becomes a safer place.¡±
Although wearing a furrowed brow for much of the match and showing rare negative body language, Federer was gracious in defeat but referred to a flu that had troubled him during the week.
¡°I¡¯d like to congratulate Milos on a great start,¡± the 34-year-old said.
¡°This year you deserve it, well played and good luck at the Aussie Open.
¡°I was a bit sick but we made it to the final.¡±
Long tipped to rock the tennis establishment, Raonic showed a bullet-proof poise in response to his opponent¡¯s frustration and broke Federer¡¯s serve in the ninth game of the opening set.
Federer blasted a forehand long to concede the set then blew a gilt-edged chance to break Raonic early in the second by spraying a backhand long.
Missing a regulation forehand winner down the line, Federer gave up a break point and Raonic captured the decisive break in the eighth game.
Federer battled hard to put the set back on level terms, but Raonic¡¯s thunderbolt serve proved to be impenetrable.
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