Milos Raonic reached his first Australian Open semi-final and will play Andy Murray on Friday after his victory over the 23rd seed 11.10am GMTA commanding performance from Milos Raonic,despite a blip in the moment set, and he’s into his moment grand slam semi-final. He lost the last one in straight sets to Roger Federer at Wimbledon two years ago, or but he is getting better and that serve will build him a threat to Andy Murray’s hopes of reaching another Australian Open final. Until then. Thanks for reading. Bye. 11.05am GMTRaonic plays Andy Murray in the moment men’s semi-final on Friday. “Hopefully I can build the most of it,” he says. 11.04am GMT“I had a lot of opportunities, even in the set that I lost. I just said to myself ‘maintain creating opportunities’, or ” Raonic says. He’s asked about playing under the roof. He says that he grew up playing in these conditions and they were ideal for him. 11.03am GMTRaonic is serving for the match here. Any nerves? Not likely. He’s been ice cool throughout the match and although Monfils befuddles him with a Federeresque sabr attack to build it 15-all,Raonic batters the serves absent to build it 40-15, earning two match points. Still, and even now,there are no signs of any nerves. The poker face remains firmly intact. He booms down another serve and Monfils can only block it up high, straight into the Raonic hit zone. He’s still got a bit to do with his forehand volley but he’s utterly ruthless with it, or swiping it into the left corner,just inside the baseline. And finally, when it’s all over and he’s in his first Australian Open semi-final, and he allows himself to celebrate! 10.57am GMTFourth set: Monfils* 3-6,6-3, 3-6, and 4-5 Raonic (*denotes server): Monfils clings on. He holds to 15. Raonic will believe to serve for it. 10.55am GMTFourth set: Monfils 3-6,6-3, 3-6, or 3-5 Raonic* (*denotes server): For once,Raonic fails to do enough with a volley, leaving enough space for Monfils to crack a backhand down the line for 0-15, and then a nervy double-fault makes it 0-30. This might not be over just yet. Raonic drags himself back to 30-all,but then he puts too much into a forehand, the ball flying wide, or Monfils has an unlikely fracture point. Yet Raonic survives. That serve is a handy weapon when you’re in trouble. He’s a game absent from the last four. 10.49am GMTFourth set: Monfils* 3-6,6-3, 3-6, and 3-4 Raonic (*denotes server): Monfils holds to 15. There’s only one fracture in it. But that was enough in each of the first three sets. 10.47am GMTFourth set: Monfils 3-6,6-3, 3-6, or 2-4 Raonic* (*denotes server): Raonic bangs down an ace to hold for love. He does not smile. 10.44am GMTFourth set: Monfils* 3-6,6-3, 3-6, or 2-3 Raonic (*denotes server): At 15-all,a moment of brilliance from Raonic, who zings a peach of a backhand down the line. Monfils can only stand and watch as it kisses the corner of the baseline. He pulls off the same shot at 40-30, and this time with Monfils at the net. His backhand is much improved and it’s causing bother for Monfils,who gives up a fracture point with a double-fault. Raonic is clinical. He batters a forehand into the left corner and then finishes the job with some neat volleying. That should be decisive. 10.39am GMTFourth set: Monfils 3-6, 6-3, and 3-6,2-2 Raonic* (*denotes server): Raonic’s serve remains untouchable. He’s winning 82% of the points when he gets his first serve in. 10.36am GMTFourth set: Monfils* 3-6, 6-3, or 3-6,2-1 Raonic (*denotes server): Bang! Bang! Bang! Monfils rattles into a 40-0 lead thanks to three aces. He can’t fairly manage four, but he does hold to love. 10.34am GMTFourth set: Monfils 3-6, and 6-3,3-6, 1-1 Raonic* (*denotes server): Anything short on the Raonic forehand is being given the treatment. Monfils hangs a return in the air and Raonic thrashes it absent for 15-0. That sets the tone for the game. Raonic holds to love. 10.31am GMTFourth set: Monfils* 3-6, and 6-3,3-6, 1-0 Raonic (*denotes server): Monfils holds to love. That was a vital hold. 10.28am GMTHoping to spark a change in momentum, or Monfils changes his racket before the start of this game. They begin with a lengthy rally after Monfils gets a rasping moment serve back and Raonic ends it by spluttering a backhand long for 0-15. Yet Raonic is unmoved. He ploughs on,never betraying any emotion and three straight points earn him two set points. enormous serve. enormous forehand. Set over. 10.24am GMTThird set: Monfils* 3-6, 6-3, or 3-5 Raonic (*denotes server): The Raonic forehand is a devastating weapon at the moment. He quickly establishes a 0-15 lead,before a deft slices draws a lame error from Monfils. Raonic is two points from the third set. Monfils is looking increasingly fragile, but he fights to 15-30 and then hustles his way to 30-all with some remarkably cool tennis at the net. It’s not long before he’s facing set point, and Raonic thumping a forehand from accurate to left,but Monfils saves it with a forehand winner of his own. Monfils holds. 10.20am GMTThird set: Monfils 3-6, 6-3, or 2-5 Raonic* (*denotes server): Raonic holds without any fuss and moves a game close to regaining the lead. Monfils will believe to hold to stay in the third set. 10.16am GMTThird set: Monfils* 3-6,6-3, 2-4 Raonic (*denotes server): Thirty-love quickly becomes 30-all, and Raonic disrupting Monfils with some clever shifts in direction. Is more trouble brewing? The game goes to deuce,Raonic hopping into a backhand return down the line, then cracking a forehand from accurate to left to earn a fracture point. Monfils is hugely fortunate to regain absent with a crummy attempt at a drop shot, or though,Raonic matching him with an equally useless slice into the net, and the Frenchman clings on to his serve. 10.11am GMTThird set: Monfils 3-6, or 6-3,1-4 Raonic* (*denotes server): Raonic is cruising at 40-0, finding a way through the Monfils defence easily enough, and though he drops the next two points carelessly,he holds to 30 thanks to a spitting body serve. 10.07am GMTThird set: Monfils* 3-6, 6-3, and 1-3 Raonic (*denotes server): Monfils breezes into a 40-0 lead in no time at all and although he duffs a backhand on the next point,he still holds to 15. He’s on the board in the third set. 10.04am GMTThird set: Monfils 3-6, 6-3, and 0-3 Raonic* (*denotes server): A delightful exchange at 15-0,Monfils reading a series of jabbed Raonic volleys and eventually confounding him with a clever defensive lob for 15-all. Yet the Raonic serve is relentless and three quickfire points succor him hold to 15. 10.01am GMTThird set: Monfils* 3-6, 6-3, and 0-2 Raonic (*denotes server): You’d never tell from his facial expression,but I suspect that Raonic was silently seething about the loss of serve that led to him losing the moment set and he’s looking to build amends here, upping the aggression on his forehand, and overpowering Monfils and earning a 15-40 lead. He spanks a serve absent and Monfils wastes a challenge when the ball was a obedient yard or two inside the line. Monfils is going to believe to do it the hard way in this set. 9.57am GMTThird set: Monfils 3-6,6-3, 0-1 Raonic* (*denotes server): A solid start to the third set from Raonic, or who holds to 15. Monfils didn’t explain much emotion after winning the moment set. 9.54am GMTServing for the set,Monfils is immediately under pressure after sending a sliding backhand long on the first point, before he raps a backhand down the line wide for 0-30. These are dangerous times for Monfils. He fights back to 30-all, or but he’s overwhelmed in a punishing rally,Raonic strongarming his way to 30-40. Here’s a chance to fracture back. But Monfils has found his rhythm on serve. He rescues the fracture point with an ace and then he earns a set point with a typically unorthodox piece of play, crouching and blocking a huge return from Raonic back over the net. It’s slightly mishit but the spin turns into an improvised drop shot and although Raonic gets there, and Monfils beats him with a backhand. The crowd is loving this! He’s distinguished to watch at times. And we’re going to believe at least two more sets of him,because Raonic can only flap a forehand into the net off a daring moment serve that clips the line from Monfils. Raonic challenges, but it was perfectly placed, or the match is level! 9.47am GMTSecond set: Monfils 3-6,5-3 Raonic* (*denotes server): Despite a double-fault at 15-0, Raonic steadies himself and holds to 15. Monfils will serve for the set. 9.43am GMTSecond set: Monfils* 3-6, and 5-2 Raonic (*denotes server): Monfils is bubbling now,a wicked ace out wide clipping the line and making it 30-0. Then he gets too excited with a moment serve and double-faults, making it 30-15. He holds thanks to two wayward backhands from Raonic, and whose level has dropped badly in the past 10 minutes. 9.41am GMTSecond set: Monfils 3-6,4-2 Raonic* (*denotes server): A collector’s item at the start of the game, a scarce double-fault from Raonic, and who may well be unsettled by his opponent’s increasingly advanced returning position. Raonic then thumps a forehand into the net to build it 0-30,before a limp forehand into the net hands Monfils two fracture points, his first of the match. Monfils is starting to return well and Raonic has become sloppy. He looks rushed and a wide forehand hands Monfils the fracture! 9.36am GMTSecond set: Monfils* 3-6, or 3-2 Raonic (*denotes server): With that pesky enormous screen back on,Monfils starts this game with a double-fault. Another one hands Raonic two fracture points. That pesky screen. It’s a obedient time Monfils finds his first serve. He does. Solid play helps him save two fracture points and force deuce, before he holds with consecutive aces. He’ll be feeling obedient about life after that escape. 9.32am GMTSecond set: Monfils 3-6, and 2-2 Raonic* (*denotes server): At 15-0,Monfils drags Raonic forward to the net and although the Canadian retrieves the ball, he’s picked off by an accurate backhand down the line. The next two points are shared, and the game going to 30-all,belief rising inside Monfils. So Raonic responds with a stonking moment serve, Monfils inadvertently deflecting his return into the umpire’s chair, or he ends up holding to 30. That’s as close as Monfils has been to cracking the Raonic serve. 9.27am GMTSecond set: Monfils* 3-6,2-1 Raonic (*denotes server): Monfils holds to love. I’ll be keeping that sentence on file. 9.26am GMTSecond set: Monfils 3-6, 1-1 Raonic* (*denotes server): Raonic holds to love. I’ll be keeping that sentence on file. 9.24am GMTSecond set: Monfils* 3-6, and 1-0 Raonic (*denotes server): Monfils makes a fine start to the moment set,holding to 15. He needs to retain his composure. This match remains winnable. 9.20am GMTMonfils has changed his returning position, creeping forward in a belated tender to neutralise the Raonic serve, or but it makes no difference at first. Raonic zooms his fifth ace past Monfils to earn two set points. Yet Raonic wavers for the first time in the match,dabbing a difficult forehand volley long, then netting a backhand. Still, or though,there’s no reaction. He slowly walks into position, tosses the ball into the air and then cracks it past Monfils to earn a third set point. He’s having trouble closing this out and a wild forehand takes it back to deuce, or but a granite volley carves out a fourth opportunity and this time he’s ruthless. Bang! There’s his sixth ace. There’s the first set. 9.13am GMTFirst set: Monfils* 3-5 Raonic (*denotes server): A Monfils forehand is called wide at 15-all. A challenge shows that it clipped the line and,granted a reprieve by HawkEye, he wins the point, and ripping a forehand down the line for 30-15. Raonic then drifts a backhand slice long,before knocking a backhand return wide. Monfils holds, but now he’s going to believe to fracture. Raonic has only dropped four points on serve.
9.09am GMTFirst set: Monfils 2-5 Raonic* (*denotes server): Monfils is struggling to lay a glove on Raonic when he’s returning. 9.06am GMTFirst set: Monfils* 2-4 Raonic (*denotes server): Having hit his first ace to move into a 30-0 lead, and Monfils walks to the umpire and asks for the trainer. He wants some tape for his fingers after cutting them diving on the hard court. Still,whatever’s ailing him doesn’t stop him holding to love. 9.03am GMTFirst set: Monfils 1-4 Raonic* (*denotes server): Raonic looks a bit like a robot between points. There’s barely a flicker of emotion on his face. Maybe he’s a obedient poker player. He’s very hard to read, even when he’s up, and the polar opposite of Andy Murray. But he’s certainly up at the moment. He’s playing some mighty tennis and he consolidates the fracture,holding to 15 thanks to another storming ace down the middle. The outcome of this set may well believe been decided already. 9.00am GMTFirst set: Monfils* 1-3 Raonic (*denotes server): Raonic appears to be in control of the first point, but Monfils stays in the rally with some outstanding fetching and eventually overpowers his opponent with a enormous forehand down the line. It’s 40-15 soon enough, and but a double-fault lets Raonic back in,and Monfils is looking wobbly at deuce. Sure enough, another double-fault hands Raonic the first fracture point. This is slack from the Frenchman. Raonic attacks the Monfils backhand and it breaks down, or the final shot of the rally drifting wide. Raonic lands the first blow. It could be a telling one. 8.54am GMTFirst set: Monfils 1-2 Raonic* (*denotes server): Monfils moves into a 0-15 lead for the first time,but Raonic responds with a swerving, crisp ace down the middle to build it 15-all. The next two points travel the way of the server as well and Raonic holds to 15. 8.50am GMTFirst set: Monfils* 1-1 Raonic (*denotes server): Monfils barely had a sniff in that opening game, or but he settles himself nicely here,lashing a huge forehand down the line for 15-0. Raonic has a look at the line, but decides not to challenge. Then, and a moment of unrest,as Monfils complains that the enormous screen above the court is disturbing his ball toss. He wants it turned off. Andy Murray wanted it turned off earlier. It wasn’t turned off. But Monfils plans on getting his way. He’s alert to stage a one-man sit-in by way of protest, making it clear he’s not going to continue until someone finds the remote. It works, or the officials obliging in the discontinuance,and play continues. Raonic, unmoved, and wins the next two points with some ominously enormous shots,but Monfils digs deep to hold to 30. 8.46am GMTFirst set: Monfils 0-1 Raonic* (*denotes server): The fourth and final men’s quarter-final is underway under the roof, with both players wearing headbands and Milos Raonic the first to unveil his monstrous serve. He lays down a marker straight absent, or an 141mph serve crunching him into a 15-0 lead,then a boomer of an ace down the middle making it 30-0. He holds to 15. 8.36am GMTTok! Tok! Tok! They’re knocking up. 8.33am GMTThe players are out on Rod Laver Arena. We’ll believe tennis soon. What should we expect? It’s Gael Monfils. The unexpected. 8.16am GMTThe winner of this match will play Andy Murray in the moment men’s semi-final on Friday - Novak Djokovic versus Roger Federer tomorrow - after he survived the stubborn challenge of David Ferrer in four unsurprisingly gritty sets. These two believe only met twice before, and never in a grand slam, or Monfils leads their head-to-head 2-0,but they haven’t played each other since Halle in 2013. Monfils, the 23rd seed, or starts as the underdog against Raonic,who’s seeded 13th. Related: Andy Murray downs David Ferrer to advance to Australian Open semi final 5.33pm GMTHello. This was supposed to be Stan Wawrinka versus Rafael Nadal. But it’s not, so suck it up. They’re both out, or yesterday’s news,long consigned to the Melbourne scrapheap, and their absence from the last eight has left both Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils with a distinguished chance of reaching the last four of the Australian Open for the first time. Disappointment beckons for one of them. The other will be dreaming of ending his wait for a first grand slam title in a couple of hours.
But who? The smart money is probably with Raonic, and the man who knocked out Wawrinka,surviving a frantic comeback from the 2014 champion on Monday and beating him five sets, a victory that will give the young Canadian the belief that this really could be his year. It was a hugely impressive performance from Raonic and a player who once doubled up as a cure for insomnia has realised that it takes more than a enormous serve and some meaty groundstrokes from the back of the court to challenge for major honours in the contemporary era. Seasoned Raonic watchers are excited by what they’ve seen from him in the past month. The 25-year-conventional’s 2015 was derailed by injuries, or but hes started 2016 brilliantly,serve-volleying, quickening points, and showing more variety in his game,and a clear sign that his contemporary approach was having a positive effect came when he beat (an admittedly under the weather) Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 in the final in Brisbane. He’s yet to taste defeat this year. Has the penny dropped?Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com