Saturday, 19 January 2019

AO - Raonic d Herbert and serving well

Day 6 of Australian Open 2019, and third match on Melbourne Arena was:

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) v Milos Raonic (16) (CAN)


Herbert served first, and held for the loss of just a point, sealing it with an ace.

Raonic served a double fault but two aces made it comfortable.  1-1.

Two aces from Herbert and he finished his second service game with a forehand winner. 2-1.  A love game for Raonic, clinched with a backhand winner.  A love game also for Herbert and he led 3-2, a winning forehand the highlight. Two aces finished a love game for Raonic. 3-3.

Herbert forced a pair of Raonic forehand errors and that assisted him to hold serve and lead 4-3.

Love game for Raonic, sealed with an ace. 4-4.  


Two Raonic forehand winners and Herbert 15-30.  Two break points after a forced forehand error from Herbert.  Double fault and an unexpected service break.  Raonic led 5-4 and served for the set.

Three set points, the first saved with a forehand cross court winner from France.  The next one was an ace, the second for the game, and Raonic led 6-4.


Two Herbert forehand winners in the opening game of set two and he led 1-0.  Two forehand winners and two service winners for Raonic and 1-1.  Three clean winners and Herbert ahead 2-1.  

Raonic began and finished with an ace to level at 2-2.  Herbert down 0-30.   A terrific forehand return from Raonic and two break points.  A forehand winner converted the first one and the Canadian led 3-2.

Raonic ace replied with a winning forehand return. 15-15.  Ace and two game points. Serve held for 4-2.

Four forced forehand errors from Raonic and Herbert held serve 3-4.

Three service winners from Raonic and he was ahead 5-3.  

From 40-15, Herbert was dragged to deuce.  He didn’t like it there and forced Raonic into backhand trouble twice to hold for 4-5.


Raonic served for a two set lead.  Net cord luck for Herbert and 0-15.  Ace and 15-15. Raonic forehand winner and set point. Ace #13 did the damage and Raonic took the set 6-4


The opening game of set three saw Herbert hold serve and lead 1-0.  Raonic was down 0-30, but a pair of aces assisted him to hold serve for 1-1.  Exchange of forehand winners in the Herbert service game and 30-30.   A forced Herbert forehand error produced a break point, and an unforced backhand mistake confirmed the break.  Raonic ahead 2-1

30-30 after four backhand errors.  A Herbert backhand winner and his first break point for the match.  An unforced Raonic forehand error and the break back.  2-2.

Forehand winners from each and 15-15.  Unforced error from Herbert and he was behind 15-30. A French forehand winner for 30-30.  Serve held and Herbert ahead 3-2.  Three Canadian aces and 3-3.

An easy hold for Herbert, attacking the Raonic backhand successfully.  4-3.


Raonic double fault.  Then an ace.  30-30 after each player forced backhand errors.  Raonic hit a forehand winner and service winner to seal the game. 4-4.  

0-30 after two Herbert unforced errors.  Herbert ace and Raonic unforced error. 30-30.  Double fault and break point.  Saved and deuce.  Serve held with an ace. 5-4.

Raonic served a love game, forcing errors on each point. 5-5.

15-30 on the Herbert serve.  A forced Raonic backhand error and 30-30.  Another for game point.  Serve held for 6-5.  

Two Raonic aces and a backhand winner.  6-6 and tie break.


Raonic began with a backhand winner and two aces to lead 3-0.

Unforced Herbert error and 4-1 to Raonic with two mini breaks.

5-1 and change of ends.

Forehand winner from Herbert against the Raonic serve. 2-5.

Brilliant backhand winner from Herbert and 3-5.  Herbert forced a Raonic forehand error and the Canadian led 5-4 with two serves to come.

Awesome return from Herbert forced an error and 5-5.  Huge Raonic serve and match point on the Herbert delivery.  Raonic return of the second serve was long and it was 6-6.  Second change of ends.

Raonic’s turn to deliver a stunning return, win the point and have the chance to serve for the match.  7-6.  He did it well.

Milos Raonic won 6-4 6-4 7-6(6) and was through to the round of sixteen.

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