Ukraine hit by largest drone attack since war began, says Zelensky    Germany's conservatives celebrate, but far right enjoy record result    British couple in their 70s arrested by Taliban    Syria plans to erase Queen Zenobia from history books    Ronaldo expresses joy celebrating Saudi Founding Day with Crown Prince at Saudi Cup 2025    Volvo returns to Saudi Arabia with Electromin — a bold step toward a sustainable future    Saudi Arabia implements new personal status regulations    Riyadh begins installing nameplates honoring Saudi imams and kings in 15 major squares    Bergwijn, Benzema lead Al-Ittihad to dominant 4-1 Clasico win over Al-Hilal    Saudi U-20 team secures spot in 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup with last-minute winner over China    PIF seeks to expand US investments despite restrictions, says governor Al-Rumayyan Saudi sovereign fund launched 103 companies across 13 sectors, aims to attract more foreign talent to Saudi Arabia    Saudi minister holds high-level talks at FII Miami to boost AI, tech, and space partnerships    Saudi Media Forum concludes with key industry partnerships and award recognitions    Al-Ettifaq stuns Al-Nassr with late winner as Ronaldo protests refereeing decisions    Imam Mohammed bin Saud: The founder of the First Saudi State and architect of stability    'Neighbors' canceled again, two years after revival    Proper diet and healthy eating key to enjoying Ramadan fast    Saudi Media Forum panel highlights Kingdom's vision beyond 2034 World Cup    AlUla Arts Festival 2025 wraps up with a vibrant closing weekend    'Real life Squid Game': Kim Sae-ron's death exposes Korea's celebrity culture    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    









Raonic takes revenge on Federer
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 11 - 01 - 2016

An inspired Milos Raonic toppled Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 to win the Brisbane International 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.
Wawrinka completes hat trick
World No. 4 Stan Wawrinka cruised past Croatian teenager Borna Coric 6-3, 7-5 to claim his third successive Chennai Open title Sunday.
The top-seeded Swiss defeated the 19-year-old Coric, the youngest ATP World Tour finalist since Kei Nishikori at Delray Beach in 2008, to win his fourth title in six years in the Southern Indian city of Chennai.
The win will give Wawrinka, who has two Grand Slam titles, confidence that he can repeat his 2014 Australian Open success when the season's opening Grand Slam begins in Melbourne on Jan. 18.
Kvitova, Radwanska pull out
of Sydney International
Defending champion Petra Kvitova and second seed Agnieszka Radwanska are the latest stars to have troubled buildups to this month's Australian Open after pulling out of the Sydney International Sunday.
In Sunday's matches, 2014 champion Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova upset Lesia Tsurenko 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 to set up a second-round encounter with Swiss star Belinda Bencic.
Serbia's Jelena Jankovic accounted for American Coco Vandeweghe in straight sets and Caroline Garcia won the all-French match with Kristina Mladenovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
Serbia's world No. 16 Ana Ivanovic was knocked out by Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-2. — Agencies


Clic here to read the story from its source.