Raonic, Federer meet in rematch at Brisbane International

Raonic started the match the stronger of the two players, capitalising on some poor serving from the 17-time Grand Slam champion and manufacturing a couple of early break points with the first set at 2-2.

Milos Raonic eased past Roger Federer in straight-sets to claim the Brisbane title. Milos closed the set on own serve in next game.

A double-fault from Federer and then a backhand into the net gave the Canadian his first break at 5-4, before Raonic served successfully for the first set.

The bomb-serving Canadian kicked off 2016 in style by earning his second career win over Roger Federer in the Brisbane final on Sunday. “Now I’m at the level [over the] past few months being in the top 20 and playing these players that have been consistently in the top 10, top 5 in the world”.

Third-seeded Czech Kvitova will not be able to defend her Sydney title after succumbing to a gastrointestinal illness, which plagued her in China last week.

“I have to go there (Sydney) with the mindset to win the tournament”. That’s why I’m not down or anything or disappointed.

The world No. 14 said he “definitely” has it in him to become a force at the majors this year.

Paszek was playing her seventh match at the tournament after winning her way through qualifying into the main draw.

“I was very pleased with how I played”. “It was very special because it was a final… plus, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson were on the court to hand me the trophy and be in the picture with me and the number 1,000”.

After Tomic won four straight points to make it 5-5 in the second set tiebreak, Raonic whipped a forehand victor down the line to bring up match point.

Thiem beat third-seeded Marin Cilic 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 and said he was hoping to play Federer.

Tennis: Ana Ivanovic has bowed out of the Sydney International in the first round throwing her Australian Open preparations into chaos.

Eugenie Bouchard is heading into the Australian Open with “zero expectations” of success after a year plagued by injury and poor form. With the loss, he fell to 1-10 against Top-10 competition.

With France’s Richard Gasquet withdrawing late last month because of injury, Tomic will be seeded 16th for the Australian Open next week. I felt that other than maybe one service game where I double faulted three times, I was staying quite a bit ahead on my serve and always close on his, except for one that I lost at love.

“I think (Thursday) I was being aggressive and coming forward; today I thought I came forward as well, but I was probably more efficient today”, Raonic said.

Azarenka was unseeded in Brisbane, where she won the inaugural title in 2009, because her ranking slipped to No. 22 at the end of 2015.