Milos Raonic was close to perfection in the first two sets of his round-of-16 match against Guido Pella at Wimbledon on Monday. In fact in the first set he was 19-0 service points won– numbers 17, 18 and 19 being aces. Then the streak came to an end when, on set point, he was a little too bold on a second serve (131 mph) and double-faulted long.

That set, with a break of the Pella serve in the fourth game, lasted 24 minutes and finished 6-3. The second set went on longer (49 minutes) but it was still Raonic in charge as Pella could only manage six points won in his Canadian opponent’s five service games.

From the back of the court Raonic was the superior player with greater weight of shot as well as being masterful at the net – winning 8/11 (73%) in the first set and 15/20 (75 %) in the second. Final score – 6-4.

But cloudy skies darkened as the third set progressed and Raonic became more vulnerable – losing his serve trailing 2-1 with the last two points being a double fault and net rush by Pella that forced a backhand passing shot error.

Pella used the service break to run out the set 6-3. Raonic rebounded quickly in the fourth set – holding serve three times to love and then, after serving out of a love-40 deficit at 3-all and saving another break point as well, he broke Pella on four straight points to go ahead 5-3. Logically, with him serving for the match, that’s where things should have ended. But Pella broke right back after taking a love-40 lead and forcing a drop shot return error by Raonic on the third and final break point chance.

The 29-year-old Argentine held serve to 5-all and matters proceeded to a tiebreak. There was a bad omen on the very first point when Pella belted a low service return that Raonic volleyed into the net. Pella held his next two service points and that was basically all the separation he needed – grabbing a 5-1 lead and finishing it off 7-3.

In the fifth set as the light remarkably began to brighten at about 7:15 p.m., Raonic had two break points in the opening game but Pella saved them both – with a forehand passing shot winner and then a missed Raonic service return.

That, in hindsight, was Raonic’s last real opportunity. Trailing 5-4, he saved a match point with a deft forehand angled volley winner – and then two more down 6-5 before Pella finally wrapped up the three-hour and 42-minute thriller leading 7-6 – an awkward short service return on the fourth match point caught Raonic in the forecourt and he misfired with a backhand into the net..........

http://www.tenniscanada.com/news/tebbutt-milos-was-almost-there/