Milos Raonic beats Roger Federer in semi-finals of Wimbledon 2016
Sixth seed Milos Raonic of Canada beat third seed Roger Federer in a nearly 3-hour, five-set match for a spot in the finals of Wimbledon 2016. The 25-year-old beat Federer 6-3, 6-7, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 for his first ever Grand Slam final. It is also the first time a male Canadian player is in the finals of a Grand Slam. The first Canadian was World No. 48 Eugenie Bouchard, who made the finals of Wimbledon in 2014, losing to Petra Kvitova.
Raonic hit a mammoth 23 aces during the match, and although he double-faulted significantly in that match, he persevered against the Swiss, who missed out on a couple of crucial opportunities, having taken Raonic to break point on nine occasions but successfully breaking only once.
Both players put on a fine display of athleticism today, at full stretch to make shots from the baseline, rushing the net and playing a fine combination of baseline play and serve-and-volley.
The 25-year-old, who has struggled with injury in the past, had bowed out to Federer at exactly this stage of Wimbledon in 2014, so this was perhaps a revenge match for the Canadian. Federer had won in straight sets on that occasion, so making his maiden Grand Slam final will be special for Raonic.
The match saw a tense moment, with Federer slipping on the grass to make a shot off Raonic; he fell on his injured knee, with medical staff called on to the court.
Eventually, the Swiss struggled in the end with an improved Raonic serving powerfully and precisely to take victory today. Raonic also has the added benefit of John McEnroe on his coaching staff, and will face the winner of the other semi-final between Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych in the finals.