Tennis

Milos Raonic, the former Wimbledon finalist, made a resounding statement at the Queen's Club on Monday, saving two match points to secure a thrilling first-round victory over home favorite Cameron Norrie. The towering Canadian also etched his name into tennis history by firing a record-breaking 47 aces during his three-set comeback.Raonic's serve proved to be an unstoppable force against Norrie, the British No. 2. He unleashed 18 aces in the final set alone, including a blistering 232 kph (144 mph) rocket during the deciding tiebreak to seal the match."With the scoreline and having to save match points, I probably needed every single one of those!" Raonic exclaimed after the match. "This small record, it's something special, something meaningful. I'm glad that (it) also stands behind a win, because maybe I'd feel differently or maybe a bit more sour if I was to get that many free points and lose the match."Raonic's record-breaking performance surpassed the previous mark of 45 aces set by Ivo Karlovic in 2014. The Croatian had equaled his own record a year later in Halle.Raonic's new world record falls short of the all-time men's record for most aces in a match, which stands at 113 by John Isner in his epic 2010 Wimbledon victory over Nicolas Mahut. That match famously lasted over three days and ended with a marathon 70-68 scoreline in the fifth set.Despite his impressive serve, Raonic has faced numerous injury setbacks throughout his career. He has undergone multiple surgeries for hip, feet, and wrist injuries, as well as a torn Achilles and a broken toe. This year, he withdrew from Indian Wells due to injury and retired against Alex de Minaur at the Australian Open.Currently ranked No. 186 but once as high as world No. 3, Raonic is finding his form on grass-courts, the surface where he achieved his greatest success. He reached the 2016 Wimbledon final and the Queen's Club final that same year.Last week, Raonic reached the quarterfinals in 's-Hertogenbosch, including a win over No. 8 seed Jordan Thompson. He followed that up with his victory over Norrie in London.Raonic will now face the winner of the match between No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz and Taro Daniel, who will face off on Tuesday.

Sumit Nagal's BNP Paribas Open campaign came to an abrupt end in the opening round, as he succumbed to a straight-set defeat against Canada's Milos Raonic. The Indian tennis star, who entered the main draw as a "lucky loser" following Rafael Nadal's withdrawal, was unable to match the power and precision of his opponent.Nagal, ranked 101st in the ATP charts, struggled to find his rhythm against the experienced Raonic, who converted three of the 12 break points he earned. Nagal, on the other hand, failed to capitalize on the two break points he had. The match lasted one hour and 28 minutes, with Raonic dominating from start to finish.Nagal's main draw appearance was a result of Nadal's last-minute withdrawal due to lack of readiness. The Spaniard has been battling injury issues and underwent hip surgery last season. Nagal had initially lost in the second round of the qualifying tournament but was given a lifeline when Nadal pulled out.Despite the disappointing result, Nagal's performance in recent months has been encouraging. He made a splash in January by reaching the second round of the Australian Open, a feat that helped him break into the top-100 of the ATP rankings.If Nagal can maintain his current form and return to the top-100, he will have a chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The Indian tennis star has shown great potential and determination, and he will be hoping to build on his recent successes in the coming months.

Rafael Nadal's long-awaited return to competitive tennis is set to take place at the BNP Paribas Open, where he will face Milos Raonic in his first official match since January. Nadal's return has been highly anticipated after he missed the Australian Open due to an injury setback.Despite his absence from the court, Nadal looked sharp in an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in early March. While his movement may not be as fluid as it once was, his fighting spirit and ability to hit exceptional passing shots remain intact.Raonic, on the other hand, has struggled with his baseline play and mobility in recent times. However, his powerful serve remains a formidable weapon, as evidenced by his impressive performance in Rotterdam before retiring due to injury.The match is expected to be a close affair, with both players possessing strengths and weaknesses. Nadal's endurance and ability to grind out long rallies could prove decisive, while Raonic's serve will keep him in contention.The over/under line for the match is set at 22.5 games, and it is likely to be a lengthy encounter. Raonic's serve could force multiple tiebreakers, which would favor the over. Additionally, the possibility of a three-set match, which Nadal has a slight edge in, would also benefit over bettors.However, it is worth noting that both players have had recent injury concerns. If either player is unable to complete the match, most sportsbooks will refund total bets.