Raonic takes Citi Open title

Serena beats Kerber to take Stanford crown

Milos Raonic won the first all-Canadian final of the professional era when he beat Vasek Pospisil 6-1, 6-4 in the final of the Citi Open in Washington on Sunday.

Second seed Raonic took barely an hour to dispose of Pospisil on the hardcourt at the William HG Fitzgerald Tennis Center, breaking serve three times in the first set.

The second set was a tighter battle as Pospisil raised his game before Raonic delivered the knockout blow in the 10th game for his sixth ATP title, his first of the year.

Raonic, 23, playing his first event since making the Wimbledon semifinals, is projected to rise from seventh to sixth in the ATP rankings.

"I couldn't have imagined starting that well," Raonic told ESPN.
"It's tough after a few weeks away. I couldn't have asked for a better way to lead into probably my most enjoyable part of the year."

Next up for both players is a home game or sorts, the Rogers Cup starting in Toronto on Monday.
In the women's final, sixth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia beat Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in a match that stretched over two hours.

Kuznetsova broke Nara's serve five times but was broken herself on three occasions. 
   
Serena takes title

Meanwhile, Serena Williams showed she has made a full recovery from recent health issues by beating Angelique Kerber 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 in the final of the Stanford Classic on Sunday.

Williams, playing in her first tournament since being forced to retire from a Wimbledon doubles match because of a viral infection, took the Stanford crown for a third time and won her fourth title overall this season.

Her return to fitness has come at just the right time with the US Open set to start on Aug 25.
"I have a lot of confidence going but every week is a new week and hopefully I can just try to improve," Williams, who also took the title in 2011 and 2012, told reporters.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray has said that his association with coach Amelie Mauresmo is long term.
“We have agreed to work together and I think from both sides we are willing to do what it takes.”