Raonic beats Federer for Brisbane International title, reversing outcome of 2015 final

Federer’s victory against Thiem marked the third consecutive time that the Swiss will contest for the Brisbane trophy.

An inspired Milos Raonic toppled world number three Roger Federer 6-4 6-4 to win the Brisbane International on Sunday and avenge his defeat to the Swiss master in last year’s final.

Ljubicic was in Federer’s corner for the final.

With the win, Raonic has set a strong lead-in to the upcoming Australian Open.

He said after his victory: “Hopefully we have a better year this year than the last”.

The Canadian said later the win showed that he could challenge for a Grand Slam title after enduring a tough year in 2015 due to injury.

“I’m really disappointed to have to withdraw from the Sydney International but unfortunately I am still not feeling well”, Kvitova said.

Federer planned to head to Melbourne and rest for a few days before getting into his fine-tuning for the Australian Open, which starts January 18.

“This win does great things”.

“I’m very proud of the achievement and this particular stat, but I try not to think about what would happen if I would lose and not get to the final”, Djokovic said.

Raonic closed out the set but took a medical time-out at 2-1 in the second for treatment on his right leg and served four double faults when he returned to give Federer his first break point of the match, but the 17-time Grand Slam victor was unable to covert.

However, despite the start difference in the quality of serve, the set was only decided in the nine game, when the Canadian got the first of his break points. In the next game, after leading 30-0, Federer gave Raonic another breakpoint chance when he skewed just wide with a forehand down the line and then conceded the break when he netted a backhand.

The top-seeded pair took just an hour and 10 minutes to beat German wild card pair of Angelique Kerber and Andrea Petkovic 7-5, 6-1.

This year, the outlook began under something of cloud: Yes, it rained in Brisbane, but the women’s Premier tournament also lost its top three seeds with injury before they had completed a match, and then came rumours that the top seed in the men’s draw, Federer, was ill.

The Australian, who has been criticised for poor behaviour in the past, went from 78th in the world to his current career-high a year ago when he claimed a third tour title in Colombia.

Although Nadal’s game has been much improved since certain points of last season, I still like the Serbian’s odds of capturing the Doha title in straight sets tomorrow.

Raonic has also had a very good tournament.