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11/02/2024 03:45:20 pm

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Kremlin Cup: Lithuanian Qualifier Ousts Top Seeded Milos Raonic

Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis ousted top seeded Milos Raonic in three sets 6-3 4-6 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow

(Photo : atpworldtour.com)

Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis ousted top seeded Milos Raonic in three sets 6-3 4-6 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Canadian star dropped the first set but quickly leveled the match as he converted eight service aces in the second set.

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In the deciding set, Berankins broke the Canadian late in the game as he went on to record his first win over Raonic in two outings.

Raonic's loss significantly impacted his chances in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals where he is currently eighth place in the eight-man short list to London.

World No. 5 David Ferrer is just 35 points behind him with Britain's No. 1 Andy Murray not too far behind in 10th place.

Both Ferrer and Murray are currently competing at the Erste Bank Open in Austria and have already advanced to the quarterfinals.

If the Spaniard and Scot were to advance further in the tournament, Raonic might end up in 10th place or maybe in the 11th spot if Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov successfully defends his title at the If Stockholm Open in Sweden.

Meantime, Berankins will face off fifth seeded Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarters after the Spaniard defeated hard-hitting Australian Sam Groth in a hard earned two set match 7(7)-6(5) 7(7)-6(4).

In the other side of the top half, third seeded Ernests Gulbis of Latvia fended off the late attack from Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the second set to seal the victory 6-3 7(7)-6(3).

Gulbis, 26, connected four of his six service aces in the second set and won 64 percent of his first serves to register his second win over the Spaniard.

The French Open semifinalist will now face 2012 champion Andreas Seppi who defeated Croatian Ivan Dodig in straight sets 7-5 7(7)-6(3) in his second round matchup.

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