Today's Memphis final was a toss-up in my eyes. Just like last year, Milos Raonic came into the tournament fresh off a title in San Jose. He had momentum, but he had also played a lot of tennis in two weeks. More noteworthy was that his opponent, Jurgen Melzer, had already chopped down a tall, serving tree this week in John Isner. The only thing I knew for sure was that the corporate representative at the trophy ceremony would butcher the champion's name.
Jer—as in, jersey—gen Melzer was called to receive his winner's rewards after defeating Raonic, whose first and last name would have been susceptible to misinterpretation, 7-5, 7-6 (4). The outcome may surprise those looking strictly at the seedings, or who watched the first 10 games of the match. But as this final wore on, it became apparent who deserved the title.
It was not as if Melzer was impotent through the first 10 games**—each man won five of them. But they had elapsed in a scant 33 minutes, in large part thanks to 10 Raonic aces and many other easily-earned points. The Canadian was practically invincible while serving, and at the time the pressure clearly fell on Melzer.
But the Austrian appeared to relish the challenge. Maybe it was the indoor setting, where the acoustics made Melzer's backhands sound like overhead smashes, or maybe it was the underdog role he found himself in. Whatever it was, Melzer responded with some terrific all-court tennis. The crowd saw plenty of actual overhead smashes, running forehands, jumping backhands, and otherwise solid play throughout the majority of the match's extended rallies. In the first 10 games, Melzer didn't return many Raonic serves; when he did, in the 11th game, he took advantage of his opening. The youngster was broken when he smacked a forehand into the net, something Raonic would also do when trailing 4-3 in the second-set tiebreaker. Both misses were pivotal in how the match turned out.
Raonic was still reeling once the second set began. He was holding serve, but without the quiet confidence he exuded earlier on. Melzer's break at 5-all—just the second time all week Raonic had been broken—had an obvious impact on how the Canuck played. The pressure was now clearly on him.
Raonic, too, embraced it. A running forehand winner gave Raonic a 3-1 lead, and he held for 4-1. But two games later, a point after Raonic double faulted, Melzer had broken back, a sign that this might not be the rising star's day. Overall, Raonic hit a few too many errors, afforded Melzer too many easy holds, and, somewhat heretically, might not have served well enough. Raonic was broken only twice today, but for him to lose a set after leading 4-1 is quite uncommon.
About as uncommon as the first name "Jurgen" is in Tennessee.
—Ed McGrogan