Canada’s Milos Raonic advances at Japan Open with straight-sets win over Go Soeda

TOKYO – Third-seeded Milos Raonic downed Japan’s Go Soeda 6-4, 7-6(0) on Wednesday in the first round of the Japan Open.

Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., finished with a forehand winner down the line as he completely overwhelmed his Japanese opponent in the tiebreaker.

His next opponent is not yet known, as Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli is down a set against France’s Jeremy Chardy after their match was interrupted the previous evening.

Raonic is on a roll after winning his fifth career title on Sunday at the Thailand Open in Bangkok.

The 22-year-old Raonic is a provisional 11th in the race to the eight-man season wrapup in London next month and is working in Asia to try and qualify for the elite event for the first time.

Raonic improved to 38-17 on the season with the victory. Soeda is now 0-9 at his home tournament.

Raonic ended his match with 24 aces while never facing a break point, His break of Soeda in the third game of the opening set was enough to win the set after 35 minutes with his tenth ace. He dominated in the second-set tiebreaker to earn the victory.