SAN JOSE – Now that the final match has been played at the SAP Open, Milos Raonic would like to take the court with him.
Raonic became the first player in more than a half-century to win this event three straight times, beating Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-3 Sunday.
"I think roll up the court, put it in my bag and hopefully it doesn't get lost on a flight," said Raonic, who is 12-0 and didn't lose a set in this tournament.
Raonic became the first player in the Open era, which began in 1968, to win this event three consecutive times and first overall since Tony Trabert from 1953 to 1955.
As he did in his previous two titles, Raonic used an overpowering serve to control the match. He fired a 144-mph ace on his first serve of the match and was not threatened on serve. He had 19 aces and finished the week facing just one break point.
The tournament, which dates to 1889, is being moved to Memphis, Tenn., next year.
"I'm really sad to see this go," Raonic said. "It was sort of a go-to move for me in my schedule, one part of the year that was never discussed: 'Let's go back there.' It's unfortunate really to not have that chance."
Qatar Open in Doha, Qatar – Defending champion Victoria Azarenka defeated Serena Williams 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-3 in the final to end a 10-match losing streak against the American.
Azarenka will yield the No. 1 ranking to Williams today, but she extended her winning streak to 14 matches, which included her second Australian Open title. More importantly, she beat Williams for the first time since 2009 in Miami. Azarenka is 2-11 lifetime against her.
Williams, still nursing a right ankle injury, made 48 errors and converted only three of her seven break points.
Brazil Open in Sao Paulo – Rafael Nadal won his first title since a seven-month layoff to rehabilitate his left knee, beating David Nalbandian 6-2, 6-3 in the indoor clay-court tournament.
Nadal said his knee felt better and that made the difference.
"If the pain is bearable like it was today, then it's fine," he said.
Nadal still looked far from his best, though, and didn't seem to be moving well.
ABN AMRO in Rotterdam, Netherlands – Juan Martin del Potro kept Julien Benneteau winless in eight ATP Tour finals, prevailing 7-6 (2), 6-3.
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