SAN JOSE, Calif. - Defending tournament champion Milos Raonic advanced to his second straight SAP Open final Saturday, beating American Ryan Harrison 7-6 (4), 6-2 in only 78 minutes.
The six-foot-five Canadian piled up 20 aces behind a powerful serve that reached 150 m.p.h. in the comfortable conditions of the indoor arena. The Thornhill, Ont., player relied on his serve to force a first-set tiebreaker and cruise past the 19-year-old Harrison after a break in the second set gave him a 3-1 lead.
Harrison is still searching for his first ATP Tour final. He has lost three times in the semifinals on tour, including twice last year to Mardy Fish in Atlanta and Los Angeles.
Raonic will play the winner of Saturday night's semifinal between Uzbekistan's Denin Istomin and Frenchman Julien Benneteau.
