Federer loses Brisbane crown; Djokovic on top in Doha
- 8 years ago
An ailing Roger Federer lost his Brisbane title to Milos Raonic Sunday as he slipped to a straights sets defeat to the big-serving Canadian.
Federer was hoping to match world number one Novak Djokovic, who began his 2016 campaign with a "perfect" performance to claim the Doha title 24 hours earlier, but came up well short.
The 34-year-old Swiss maestro had started the week with a flu bug, improving each round until he came up against fourth seed Raonic in the final on the Pat Rafter Arena, losing 6-4 6-4.
Federer struggled with his first service throughout, facing and saving two break points in the fifth game before Raonic made the breakthrough on his second opportunity in the ninth.
He served it out to take the opener in 41 minutes and the same pattern continued in the second set.
Federer was hoping to match world number one Novak Djokovic, who began his 2016 campaign with a "perfect" performance to claim the Doha title 24 hours earlier, but came up well short.
The 34-year-old Swiss maestro had started the week with a flu bug, improving each round until he came up against fourth seed Raonic in the final on the Pat Rafter Arena, losing 6-4 6-4.
Federer struggled with his first service throughout, facing and saving two break points in the fifth game before Raonic made the breakthrough on his second opportunity in the ninth.
He served it out to take the opener in 41 minutes and the same pattern continued in the second set.