FIRST ROUND, LAST ROUND

Associated Press

MEMPHIS -- Milos Raonic beat No. 2 seed Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5) on Wednesday night in the first round of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, his second victory over Verdasco in four days.

Raonic, a 20-year-old Canadian and the fastest rising young star on the ATP Tour, beat Verdasco on Sunday in the final of the SAP Open in San Jose for his first career title.

He has risen from 159 in the world to start the year to 59 this week.

"I'm happy with the outcome, but I think there are things I can improve on the match that I'll take time to think about," Raonic said. "But I can't be unsatisfied with this result."

He said beating Verdasco on Sunday did provide a confidence boost.

A frustrated Verdasco lamented having to play the hard-serving Raonic twice in conditions that favor his game and not Verdasco's. The points were quickly played.

"For me that's not a real match in tennis," Verdasco said. "I hope to play soon against him in clay court to show him what it is to play tennis, and play rallies, and run, and not only serve."