Milos Raonic has Mardy Fish’s number again in Indian Wells, California

He beats world no. 15 for the second time this year, plays Harrison in third round

Milos Raonic (Thornhill, ON) defeated American Mardy Fish, ranked no. 15 in the world, for the second time in 2011 on Sunday night 7-5, 6-4 to reach the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, site of the first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the season.

The win did not come easy for Raonic as he battled a lower back and abdominal injury in addition to his opponent. He was treated during a medical time out in the opening set and looked increasingly uncomfortable as the match progressed. Raonic converted on both of his break point opportunities at 5-5 in the first and 4-4 in the second set which was all he would need to secure a straight sets victory. Fish, who struggled to handle the power of Raonic’s first serve and the kick on his second ball, was still able to give himself eight break point chances, but the 20-year-old Canadian saved them all. Raonic broke in the eleventh game of the opening set after Fish hit two ill advised drop shots that went into the net which cost him the break and ultimately the set.In the second frame, he hit a world class volley winner on break point in the ninth game after a spirited rally and was able to serve out the match, but not before saving more break points.

Raonic also beat Fish in a tough three setter in the semifinals at Memphis last month. The win is already Raonic’s 16th triumph of 2011 compared to just three losses. He will benefit from a day of rest on Monday as he prepares to play in the third round of a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time. His opponent for the ocassion on Tuesday will be fellow wildcard recipient and rising star, American Ryan Harrison. Marino among the top seeds at Bahamas Challenger 

Rebecca Marino (Vancouver, BC) will prepare for the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami at this week’s $100,000 Bahamas Open in Nassau, Bahamas. Seeded fourth in a deep draw that includes the likes of world no. 14 Petra Kvitova and world no. 33 Tsvetana Pironkova, Marino will take on Australian qualifier Sophie Ferguson in the opening round on Monday. Canadian juniors in Brazil and Malaysia Canada’s top juniors will be competing at a pair of ITF Grade 1 events this week in Brazil and Malaysia. Eugenie 

Bouchard (Westmount, QC) is the second seed in the girls singles draw at the Banana Bowl in Brazil. She will play Marcela Zacarias of Mexico in the first round. Meanwhile Élisabeth Abanda (Montreal, QC), Samuel Monette (Repentigny, QC), Filip Peliwo (Vancouver, BC), Kimberely-Ann Surin (Montreal, QC) and Carol Zhao (Richmond Hill, ON) are all in the main draw at the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup in Kuching, Malaysia.

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