Perhaps this is a return to form for Milos Raonic.
After one of his more impressive showings in recent memory at Indian Wells, which culminated in a quarterfinal loss, Raonic began his next tournament with an opening round victory at the Miami Open Friday.
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It didn't take long for Raonic to advance out of the first round after he defeated Swedish challenger Mikael Ymer in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
Raonic was overpowering against Ymer, producing 16 service aces to Ymer's four. It was also a clean day at the service line for Raonic, who produced two double-faults. He also led in a number of other categories, winning 78 percent of his first-serve points, and 69 percent on second-serves. Raonic was also able to convert on three-of-four break points.
He also produced what was perhaps the shot of the match with a cheeky backhand volley after charging toward the net.
Volley of the year from @milosraonic? 🤙👏🙌🇨🇦vs @MikaelYmer #MiamiOpen @TennisTV pic.twitter.com/63gnowMTyF
— Isaac Farnworth (@isaac_farnworth) March 23, 2018
All in all, it was a very stress-free day for the 27-year-old Raonic, much different than the first-round matchup for his countryman Denis Shapovalov, who needed six match points and a third-set tiebreak to advance after a blown 5-1 lead in the third.
Net coverage 💯 from @milosraonic.#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/ewxTxZ1JU7
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 23, 2018
Raonic will advance to face Argentenian Diego Schwartzman in the next round, while Shapovalov gets Damir Džumhur (Saturday, 11 a.m. ET).
Pospisil rallies past Rublev
Raonic will be joined in the round of 32 by fellow Canadian Vasek Pospisil.
Pospisil defeated 20-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev in straight sets, 7-6, 6-4 on Friday afternoon.
💪 💪@VasekPospisil ends the hope of Next Gen star Rublev 7-6(5) 6-4 to move into the #MiamiOpen third round. pic.twitter.com/Fnz1OiJVl6
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 23, 2018
After losing the first four games of the opening set, the 27-year-old fought back to force a tiebreak and rallied again after dropping the first three points of the breaker to claim it 7-5.
That was enough to rattle his young opponent, who repeatedly showed his frustration by swinging his racket against his shoe. Pospisil kept the momentum going in the second set, claiming an early break on his way to victory.
The Canadian will advance to face Marin Cilic in the next round on Sunday.