Raonic ousts No. 4 Zverev at Aussie Open to reach quarters

You could excuse Milos Raonic if he let out a shudder when the Australian Open draw was released.

An opener against the mercurial Nick Kyrgios with three-time Grand Slam champ Stan Wawrinka a good bet for Round 2. Then an imposing hurdle in Alexander Zverev just to get out of the Round of 16. All in the top half of a draw anchored by world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

The Canadian has tackled that imposing path with aplomb so far. Raonic dispatched the fourthranked Zverev on Monday to set up a quarter-final meeting with Lucas Pouille of France.

“Tough draws can go one of two ways,” said longtime tennis analyst Robert Bettauer. “You can lose early and bow out, or you can work your way through it and then you become very tough to beat in the tournament.”

Raonic remained consistent against the German star, who struggled early and never recovered.

The 16th-seeded Canadian fired 15 aces and had 45 winners, dropping only two games in the first two sets. Raonic averaged 200 km/h on his first serve in the match and peaked with a rocket of 223 km/h.

Pouille, the No. 28 seed, has never reached a Grand Slam semifinal.

Raonic has struggled with injuries in recent seasons. The 28-year-old is up to No. 17 on the latest ranking list and will rise at least three spots next week.

“I think I have to re-establish my ranking and consistency throughout a year,” Raonic said. “I know when I do my things right, I can give myself a chance.”

Only three top-10 players remain in the men’s singles draw.

Second-seeded Rafael Nadal will play unseeded Frances Tiafoe on Tuesday, while 14th-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas will take on 22nd-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut.

The following day, Raonic will meet Pouille while Djokovic will face eighth-seeded Kei Nishikori.