Look of the Week: Zendaya aces two looks for Challengers premiere, Venus, Genie & more hit LA red carpet

Early in 2011, young Canadian Milos Raonic was just beginning to become a household name. Already, the 20-year-old made it to the second week of the Australian Open and won his first career title in San Jose. Veteran Andy Roddick had also experienced a solid start to the year, as he reached the round of 16 at the Australian and before that, made the final in Brisbane.

Roddick entered the Memphis Open as the top seed and lived up to his billing by reaching the final, with wins over Juan Martin del Potro and Lleyton Hewitt along the way. On the other side of the draw, Raonic defeated second-seeded Fernando Verdasco in the first round and Mardy Fish in the semifinals to reach his second final in as many weeks.

A young player hitting big forehands and serving bombs? Roddick must have felt like he was looking at the younger version of himself who won Memphis in 2002. Naturally, the first set went to a tiebreaker, with Roddick taking it 9-7.

Showing poise beyond his years, Raonic hung tough in the second set, and after they traded breaks, it was tiebreaker time again. This time, though, Raonic prevailed, 13-11.

In the third, it appeared Roddick would run away with by going up, 4-1. Raonic dug deep to hold and soon they were level at 5-5. Roddick then held on and it seemed they were destined for another tiebreaker. On Raonic’s serve, Roddick got a look at break point, and won the match with one of the most dramatic shots of his career.

Advertising

119

In the first two months of the 2011 season, Raonic improved his ranking from No. 156 to No. 37 behind a roaring start that included a fourth-round showing at the Australian Open and his first two singles finals.

At the time, Roddic was ranked third among active players with 30 career titles, behind only Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Advertising

Baseline

Return Winners: A look at the 2011 Memphis Open final

Emma Raducanu carries BJK Cup momentum—and Team GB's lucky bracelet—into Stuttgart quarterfinals

As inseams get higher, Aryna Sabalenka, Stefanos Tsitsipas lead the Great Shorts Debate 🩳

Destination Tennis: USTA National Campus

Look of the Week: Zendaya aces two looks for Challengers premiere, Venus, Genie & more hit LA red carpet

Naomi Osaka reflects on the lessons of her past, the reality of her present and hopes for the future

“Lucky charm” Ons Jabeur snaps five-match losing streak in Stuttgart

Zendaya wants to meet Coco Gauff, while her grandma is 'so excited' for 'Challengers'

Serena Williams open to owning WNBA team, calls women’s sport “overly safe bet”

Tales from the stringing room: Strange requests, racing against the clock and more

Return Winners: A look at the 2011 Memphis Open final

Advertising