Novak Djokovic eases into the semifinals with a straight sets win over Milos Raonic
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic beat No. 8 seed Milos Raonic 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-2 to progress to the semifinals of the Australian Open. The four-time champion at Melbourne Park started positively holding his first service game to love. The big serving Canadian was put under pressure in the second game, but Raonic saved a few break points to level scores. Djokovic wasn’t troubled on his serve as he won 85 % of points on his first serves. It was Raonic who was made to work hard in the eighth game as he saved a bunch of break points just to stay at level terms with the Serb in the set.
The opening set went to a tiebreak and it was the No. 1 seed who got the first minibreak. He had have it for long as he netted a forehand passing shot. Raonic hit a forehand long as the Serb took the first set in 55 minutes.
Djokovic broke Raonic’s serve in the first game of the second set and was ruthless on his first serve as he won 94 % of his points off them. Raonic wasn’t bad either as he won 86 % of his first serve points. Djokovic was miserly on his unforced errors and won all his points when he approached the net. A solitary break was sufficient for Djokovic to lead two sets to love.
Raonic’s first serve percentage dipped in the third set and Djokovic capitalised breaking the Canadian’s serve twice before winning the set and marching to his fifth Australian Open semifinal.
He will take on defending champion Stan Wawrinka in the semifinal.