Murray beats Raonic to claim 5th Queen’s Club title

The Scot was busily striding across the Queen’s Club grass yesterday to give his team a celebratory fist bump on the occasion of his record-setting fifth win at this famous old venue when he noticed that one seat lay empty.

The Briton fought back from a set and 30-0 down in second set to beat world number nine Raonic 6 (5)-7, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 15 minutes in West Kensington.

“It was nice of him to stick around for the presentation”, Murray joked after seeing that Lendl had departed. “Obviously, it’s been a good week back together”.

In the break after five games, McEnroe, agitated, stretched his legs; Lendl remained seated and impassive.

Canadian third seed Raonic, who has just started employing the services of Lendl’s old rival McEnroe to help hone his grasscourt game, then overpowered Australian Bernard Tomic 6-4 6-4 in the traditional pre-Wimbledon tournament. The Queen’s Club patrons thought differently, as did most of the media, as we watched for the slightest twitch from either coach. Having levelled the match at one set each, he then secured a third break in four.

“Obviously [his] serve is the biggest strength in his game”, Murray said. “Normally he’s up there in the commentary booth, telling us what we should be doing better”.

“Usually he’s up in the commentary booth telling us what we should be doing better so to do something a little bit better here than someone like him is awesome”.

“I am giving myself chances every week right now and winning a lot of matches”, he said, as reported by Sky Sports. I’m aware that he’s achieved way, way more than me.

“Coming out here to win for the fifth time, I was really motivated”, Murray said. Raonic served like a dream, chased into the net even on Murray’s serve, and pounded his one-two strikes-now serve and smash, now serve and forehand winner-to hold to love.

The set was won in the twinkling of an eye. After just a week it’s hard to say how much impact Lendl or McEnroe has really had. Indeed both served superbly, at well over 70% and dropped only four and three points respectively on first serve.

That was the cue for the Canadian to hit a purple patch. There seemed to be no way back for the defending champion but, nevertheless, he found one.

Raonic was convinced he had earned a 4-1 lead, but the luxury of hawk-eye completely turned the match on it’s head and Murray truly exploited that advantage. The Raonic nerve was temporarily rattled.

After closing out the set, Murray kept a grip on proceedings by breaking in the opening game of the decider. The way I played in the big moments. “I had to think a little bit more about what’s important, what my values are”.

“Hopefully I can serve like that again in the final”.

I’m sure the football will provide a good diversion during Wimbledon as always. The crucial first break came after a magnificent backhand victor directly from Raonic’s serve, giving him the impetus to streak ahead in the second set.

In Murray, nevertheless, the world No 13 was facing a master of his craft.