In the first quarter-final of the Davis Cup final phase between Canada, defending champion, and Finland, Milos Raonic (318th in the world) brought the first point to the Canadians by beating Patrick Kaukovalta (715th) 6-3 on Tuesday , 7-5.
The second singles will see the Canadian Gabriel Diallo (N.3 in his country and 139th in the world) face the Finn Otto Virtanen (171st).
Raonic, renowned as a big server, set the tone from the start in this first match of the 2023 edition of the Davis Cup, by hitting four aces on the first four points.
In this first round, the former world No. 3, who fell back to the depths of the rankings at 32 after years of injuries, won 20 of the 21 points on his serve, scored ten aces, and made the decisive break at 4 games at 3, after already having break points at 3-2.
This first round came down to a battle of services and lasted only 24 minutes.
In the second set, the tall Canadian (1.96 m) also managed a break, at 5-5 this time, on a missed volley from Kaukovalta. He then won the match on his serve, which he won “white” and concluded with an… ace, his 18th of the match.