Raonic rolls into fourth round again
Thornhill star dedicates match to victims, families in Saskatchewan shooting
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA— Canadian Milos Raonic made quick work of a dangerous opponent to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open as he beat Viktor Troicki Saturday and dedicated the win to the victims of a shooting in Saskatchewan.
The 25-year-old from Thornhill took an hour and 46 minutes to advance into the second week of the first major of the season, claiming the match 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. The match between pre- Open champions — Raonic beat Roger Federer for the Brisbane title while Troicki won Sydney — created some stress for Raonic as he took to the court after hearing the tragic news that took place Friday in La Loche, Sask.
“It was a difficult day back home,” Raonic said. “There was a shooting in a high school in a small town. I give my thoughts to that community, the families, the students and the school affected.
“We wish you all the best. This win was for that community and a speedy recovery. All of Canada and the world is behind you.”
The 13th seed’s win was in sharp contrast to his previous match, a struggle lasting for three hours over Tommy Robredo.
Raonic defeated Troicki for a fourth time dating to 2012 and has not dropped a set in the series. He finished with 14 aces, 37 winners and conversions on 5-of-12 break point chances. Troicki committed 24 unforced errors.
Raonic is into the last 16 in Melbourne for the fourth time as he produced his third win of the week in straight sets. He reached the quarterfinals a year ago.
The 2014 Wimbledon semifinalist swept up the first two sets against Troicki in an hour with a break per set. The Canadian was broken for his only time in the match as Troicki took a 4-3 lead in the third, only to lose it as the Canadian struck back for 5-4.
Raonic caught the sideline with a service winner to set up match point and advanced when Troicki was long with a return.
On the women’s side, two-time champion Victoria Azarenka walked onto Rod Laver Arena knowing that the No. 2- and No. 3-ranked players were already out of the tournament and that the draw appeared to be opening up in her favour.
She blinked at first, when Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka broke her at love in the first game of their thirdround match, but recovered quickly and responded with a 6-1, 6-1 win in 56 minutes.
The 14th-seeded Azarenka, back in form after two injury-interrupted seasons, has dropped just five games in three matches at Melbourne Park after warming up with a title at the Brisbane International.
She will next play No. 48-ranked Barbora Strycova, who upset thirdseeded Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-2 in the previous match on centre court. Strycova has only been past the third round once before in 38 Grand Slams. “I will enjoy myself first because I beat No. 3 in the world,” she said.
Johanna Konta, who beat Venus Williams, became the first British woman to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open since Joe Durie in 1987.
Konta, who was born in Sydney and became a British citizen in 2012, beat Denisa Allertova 6-2, 6-2.