Raonic Powers Up Against Kyrgios In London

Milos Raonic won an ace-laden first-round clash against Nick Kyrgios on Wednesday at the Aegon Championships to start his partnership with four-time former Queen’s Club champion John McEnroe in style. Third seed Raonic hit 20 aces and converted two of his 11 break point opportunities in a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Kyrgios, who struck 17 aces, in two hours and five minutes. The match had resumed at the start of the third set after it was suspended due to bad light on Monday night. Raonic will next play lucky loser Jiri Vesely in the second round.

Earlier in the day, wild card Kyle Edmund, who is part of the ATP’s Next Generation, recorded the biggest match win of his career. The 21-year-old Briton defeated eighth seed and last year’s semi-finalist Gilles Simon 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, in a rain-interrupted encounter over one hour and 43 minutes. It was only Edmund’s second grass-court win in nine tour-level matches.

Another British wild card Dan Evans came close to becoming the fourth local hope in the second round, but 34-year-old Paul-Henri Mathieu silenced supporters with a 7-6(8), 6-7(6), 6-3 win over two hours and 35 minutes. World No. 92 Evans hit 13 aces, while Mathieu saved seven of nine break points.