Novak Djokovic and Milos Raonic had a real fight in Rome.
The Canadian was at his very best to blast an astonishing 17 aces. Milos was firing missiles all over the place with his first serve going sometimes even over 230 kmh.
The first set went straight to a very strange tie break. Nole actually won the first 3 points to lead 3-0, but then it was Raonic to win the next 6 to win the opener 7-6 (5).
In the second set there was an exchange of breaks in the 4th and 5th game (1-3 and then 2-3). Djokovic was trying to put some space between him and Raonic, but the Canadian was hanging there using his serve. Eventually the Serbian won the second set at the tiebreak.
In the third set Nole had a great start to immediately break Raonic (1-0) and hold serve till the end. The world no.2 managed to break again Milos in the last game to win the match in just 3 hours.
Djokovic: It was a big win, I couldn’t read his serve
Nole commented “It was a big win. it gives me a lot of strength and belief that I hope I can carry into tomorrow’s final and the rest of the season. He played at a high level, especially on his serve, and I cannot recall the last time when I felt so helpless in the return games. I couldn’t really read his serve.”
Djokovic will play the final against either Nadal or Dimitrov
