Raonic Retires After 1st Set, Verdasco Advances To Meet Del Potro

Fernando Verdasco wanted revenge.  He didn’t think it would come quite so soon.

After bursting on the tennis scene with his journey into the 4th round at the Australian Open in January, young Canadian Milos Raonic announced to the world he was here to stay two weeks later when he ousted then No. 9 Fernando Verdasco twice in three days--first in the final in San Jose and then in the 1st round of the tournament in Memphis.

The two met again Saturday in the semifinals of the Estoril Open in Portugal, and Verdasco came away victorious after Raonic retired at the end of the first set.  Verdasco, now ranked No. 15 won the set 6-4, converting on one of just two break point opportunities for either player in the decisive 10th game.  Raonic saved the first set point with one of his 6 aces.

Neither player had made any serious threat to the other’s serve until the final game, and  the tall Canadian, now up to a career-high ranking of No. 27, did not seem to be laboring or favoring an injury.  After a net-cord sent his final forehand beyond the baseline, Raonic walked to the net and told Verdasco he would play no longer. 

Apparently, Raonic, who had to complete his quarterfinal match this morning after it was suspended for rain and ultimately darkness yesterday, was not feeling well and did not want to put his health in jeopardy with three big tournaments looming.  He will play two Masters 1000 events the next two weeks in Madrid and Rome respectively, and then the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year, gets underway the third week of May.

Verdasco will meet Argentine and former top 5 player Juan Martin Del Potro in the final on Sunday.  Del Potro beat surprise semifinalist Pablo Cuevas earlier this morning to advance to the final.  Del Potro is on the comeback trail after having missed almost all of last year with an injured wrist.  He beat Roger Federer in an exciting five set final at the 2009 US Open for his first Grand Slam title.  Del Potro is looking in top form in his quest to regain a spot in the top ten.