Milos Raonic is through to his first career Grand Slam final after battling back to defeat seven-time champion Roger Federer in a five-set thriller at Wimbledon. After taking the opening set, the sixth-seeded Canadian could do little to stop Federer’s charge, falling behind two-sets-to-one. But Raonic would resist the pressure from the Swiss and turned the tables late in the fourth, battling back for a 6-3, 6-7(3), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory.
Raonic races through opening set
After failing to get a return in play in his first return game, Raonic turned things around in the second, getting Federer scrambling along the baseline and drawing some errors to set up a break point. The Canadian was then gifted the break when the third seed double-faulted. Raonic then had a bit of trouble consolidating and was forced to fight through a pair of deuces before holding on for a 4-1 lead.
In the seventh game, Federer grabbed a 0-30 lead on the Canadian's serve, only for Raonic to smoke four straight that the Swiss could not return. Serving for the set, the sixth seed faced some resistance from Federer but still managed to bring up a set point at 40-30. Raonic would crush a 141 MPH serve that somehow Federer chipped back on a seemingly impossible tight angle and finished the point with a perfect passing shot. He was only delaying the inevitable, as the Canadian quickly brought up a second and ripped a forehand winner to seal the opening set in just over half an hour.
Federer levels in tiebreak
The second set was fairly uneventful as both men were in control on serve. Neither player had to battle through a deuce or face a break point through the first nine games. In the ninth, Raonic had an opportunity at 30-30 to set up a break point, but missed a routine backhand. That would come back to haunt him in the following game at 4-5 as his serve deserted him and he found himself down 0-40, triple set point. But the Canadian was up to the task, saving the first with a volley, the second with a tight slice backhand, and the third with a high kicking serve to the Federer backhand. The Swiss had a fourth chance at 40-AD, but shanked a backhand long.
Both men would hold their next service games to send the set to a tiebreak. Much like the set itself, the breaker went with serve for the majority. At 3-3, Raonic blinked, double-faulting to give Federer the minibreak. The Swiss would win both of his next two service points to give himself three set points at 6-3. He would only need one, as Raonic missed a backhand down the line on the first to level the match at a set apiece.
Lone break enough for Federer
Raonic looked to regain the initiative in the match and started putting pressure on Federer in the early games. He had a brilliant opportunity in the fourth game when the Swiss double-faulted to send the game back to deuce. The opportunity was there for Raonic to set up a break point with Federer stranded at the net, but the Canadian netted his passing shot.
The Swiss would turn the tables a few games later, ripping a perfect passing shot to set up double break point on Raonic’s serve. The Canadian saved the first with a big serve, but miss-hit a backhand on the second to give Federer the break at 4-3. That one break would be enough for Federer as he would hold his remaining two service games, including a love hold to take the lead in the match.
Late slip from Federer sends match to decider
After holding serve easily through his first two games, Raonic was in trouble in his third game, falling behind double break point. The Canadian was up to the task, saving the first with a big serve before drawing an error with a deep forehand on the second, going on to hold. The next two games would both require deuces, but the servers remained in control.
Federer had a half-chance at 5-5 leading 0-30, but could not take advantage. That would prove to be a costly missed opportunity, as he would go on to blow a 40-0 lead in the next game and some amazing net play gave Raonic a set point. Federer would save it with a strong serve. A great return gave the Canadian a second, but the third seed saved it. A game point would come and go before Raonic grabbed a third set point, which he converted with a passing shot down the line to send the match to a decider.
Raonic rides serve into first major final
Raonic did not take long to make his move in the final set. After battling back to deuce on the Federer serve, he ripped a forehand passing shot down the line that left Federer flat on his face on the grass. The Swiss would call for the trainer to look at his ankle, but was off the court for only a moment. He did not seem at all bothered as he ripped a huge forehand to save the break point. After a game point came and went, a double fault gave Raonic another break point. One of the high points of the tournament followed, with the pair exchanging tight shots in the forecourt before the Canadian ripped a passing shot winner to break for 3-1.
Raonic quickly consolidated for a 4-1 lead and went right back to work on the Federer serve, battling to break point in the following game. Twice the Canadian held break point at 40-AD, but he could not grab that second break. Despite failing to extend his lead, Raonic remained untroubled on serve, holding easily to move to within a game of victory. Serving for the match, the Canadian showed no signs of nerves, racing ahead 40-0 with three huge serves, finishing when Federer missed a passing shot.
By the numbers
Raonic hit 23 aces and won 83 percent of his first serve points in the win. However, he only managed 42 percent of his second serve points. Raonic’s net attack, something that was lacking when the pair met at this stage in 2014, was huge for the Canadian, as he won 38 of 56 points at the net, 13 more points than his opponent. Federer, who had 16 aces of his own and won 82 percent of his first serve points, was left to regret only converting one of his nine break point opportunities.
It was a big-hitting match, as Raonic fired 75 winners past Federer, who responded with 49 of his own. The Canadian also missed the mark often with 40 unforced errors, while Federer was far more consistent with only 14. In the end, Raonic only won seven more points than Federer.
With the win, Raonic becomes the first Canadian man ever to reach a Grand Slam singles final. He awaits the winner between Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych in the final.