For the first time since 2010, Canadian Milos Raonic won’t play in the quarterfinals of a Toronto-based Rogers Cup.
Raonic was bounced in the second round on Wednesday evening as he lost to American Frances Tiafoe, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-1.
Play was suspended when the match was tied at 3-3 in the second set. After play resumed, Raonic won three of the last four games of the set, having the momentum on his side going into the tiebreaking set.
However, he couldn’t carry the momentum into the third set as Tiafoe won the deciding set’s first five games. After Raonic won his serve to get a game in the set, Tiafoe returned the favor to win the game, set and match.
Big Foe with the big forehand to finish!@FTiafoe tops Raonic on home soil 7-6(4) 4-6 6-1.#RogersCup pic.twitter.com/XJVeptMbHD
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 8, 2018
On the stat sheet, Raonic and Tiafoe were nearly identical. Raonic even out-aced Tiafoe, 20-6.
But Tiafoe was able to break better than Raonic. Tafoe saved 75 percent of break points to Raonic’s 67 percent. Tiafoe also won 33 percent of his break points to Raonic’s 25 percent.
That was a crucial difference in the third set as Tiafoe won two of the three games Raonic served in the set.
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Tiafoe will face fifth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the third round on Thursday. Dimitrov defeated Fernando Verdasco in three sets on Tuesday.
Up next for Raonic is the US Open, which begins Aug. 27.