ALBERT GEA
Canada's Milos Raonic defeated Czech veteran Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday for the second time in three months to reach the second round of the Barcelona Open.
The 20-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., will meet Simon Greul next, after the German defeated American Robert Kendrick, 6-4, 6-4.
"The next match will be tough, but I'm playing a lot better than I was when I played him before. I'm adjusting well to the clay and playing my game," said Raonic as he competes in only his second event on clay at the ATP level. "I fell I'm making some progress on the surface.
"I'm moving well, using my shots well and doing what I have to. I'm also playing aggressive at the right time. If I execute well, I feel I have a good chance to win more matches. All of my sensations on court have been good so far this week."
Raonic is seeded at the ATP level for the first time in his rising career at the clay-court event, which has been won five of the past six years by Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
Raonic defeated Stepanek in the second round at Memphis, Tenn., in February, where Raonic reached the final. This was just four days after the Canadian won his first ATP title in San Jose, Calif.
Raonic broke early for a 2-1 lead Tuesday, a margin he held throughout the 36-minute first set. But the young player let a golden chance slip away as he served for two breaks and led 40-0 before the experienced Stepanek pulled him back by holding 3-4.
Three games later, Raonic took the opener on his second set point.
"I was feeling comfortable out there. I'm happy with how I played and how it all went," said Raonic. "Stepanek is a tricky guy to play and he does a lot of different things, but I was happy with how I dealt with everything."
The start of the second set was a repeat of the first, with another break in the third game in favour of Raonic. The Canadian sealed a comfortable 4-2 lead with his seventh ace.
Raonic maintained his focus to finish the job, going up a double break for 5-2 and serving out the victory in 72 minutes on his first match point.
The Canadian ended without facing a break point while breaking Stepanek on three of seven chances.