After trailing by two sets, Wawrinka battled all the way back to force a deciding fifth set.
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Raonic, the No. 13 seed, hit 82 winners, including 24 aces, to beat Wawrinka 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena in three hours and 44 minutes.
Wawrinka had raised his game, and seemed to have found the key to returning Raonic’s serve, forcing break points in the opening game of the fourth before converting one a few games later. Also, Monfils really hasn’t played anybody leading up to this points, while Raonic has wins over two top-10 players already this year.
Gael Monfils had a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Andrei Kuznetsov to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 11 trips. “And it’s my first win on Rod Laver, so that’s nice”.
“I’m very happy with the way I played, the way I competed, the way I turned things around after having the momentum against me going into the fifth” he said.
A superb lob over Raonic gave the Swiss player a much needed lift, as he looked to preserve his unbeaten start to the season, and he eventually claimed the third set. A center court ceremony was held for him Thursday night after he lost his second-round singles match to David Ferrer.
But, tonight, I think Tomáš Berdych gets off his set-less schneid against Federer, and win one to push the total games to over 37.5.
Johanna Konta’s strong run at the Australian Open has continued with a 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 win over Ekaterina Makarova, advancing her to the quarterfinals. On a hot winning streak, Sania and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis dominated again as they brushed aside Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova and Italy’s Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-3 in a contest that lasted an hour and 21 minutes.
“It’s very painful”, he told reporters.
The Frenchman, this year’s No23 seed, is one of the most flamboyantly gifted men on the tour, can beat the very best when at his best, but has been dogged by injuries for much of his career-the result of an athletic style of play that, in his Round 4 match as in most others, ends in a heap on the court.
“I’m looking forward to it. She’s a fighter and such a nice person”, said the Belarusian, looking ahead to the test on Wednesday.
Kerber is making her first quarterfinals appearance in Melbourne, while Azarenka is a two-time victor Down Under.
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus holds an ice towel to her face during a break in her fourth round match against Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, J…
Andy Murray moved to within two matches of the Australian Open final – and another chance for Melbourne Park redemption – when he beat local hope Bernard Tomic 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the fourth round. I’m happy the situation I’ve put myself in.
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Indian tennis stars Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna earned contrasting victories to sail through to the quarter-finals of their respective categories at the Australian Open here on Monday.
