Milos Raonic to face Andy Murray in last four after overpowering Gael Monfils
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ByEurosport
Updated 27/01/2016 at 14:23 GMT
Milos Raonic reached his second Grand Slam semi-final with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 win over Frenchman Gael Monfils in the remaining Australian Open quarter-final on Rod Laver Arena.
Canada's Milos Raonic Canada's Milos Raonic celebrates victory during his men's singles match
Image credit: AFP
The big-serving Canadian 13th seed will meet Britain's number one and world number two Andy Murray for a place in the final on Friday morning around 8am (UK time).
"It's an amazing feeling, tennis is growing very quickly in Canada and to be a big part of it is an honour," said Raonic.
"I just said to myself 'just keep creating opportunities'. I thought I played some great tennis, whether indoors was a factor I don't know, it definitely gave my mind some peace."
Murray completed a win over Spain's David Ferrer in four sets earlier in the day.
Murray will start as a warm favourite to reach the final for a fifth time, but Raonic's serve is likely to provide him with a stern test. The former Wimbledon semi-finalist is the first Canadian to reach the last four at the season's first Grand Slam.
"A great challenge ahead of me... a challenge I believe I have it within myself to find a solution to," said Raonic, who is unbeaten in nine matches this season.
It will be Raonic's second grand slam semi-final after his 2014 Wimbledon loss to Roger Federer, who he beat to open his season with a title in Brisbane two weeks ago.
"I sort of just want to change that story around and give myself another go with more experience and where I feel like I'm a better player than I was two years ago."
The pair are 3-3 in career head-to-head meetings.
Raonic threw down 10 aces and 47 winners against Monfils, who briefly threatened to trouble Raonic by pinching the second set in a match that ran for two hours and 17 minutes.
But Raonic's powerful serve held sway for the rest of the contest as he reproduced moments of the form that helped him oust 2014 Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka in the last 16.
Monfils, at 25th in the world the lowest ranked player in the last eight, converted one of only two break points he had in the match to snatch the second set and made only 17 unforced errors.
In a contest almost bereft of long rallies, however, the 29-year-old was unable to match the power and precision of the Canadian'.
"I think he played good. Very aggressive," said Monfils. "But it was not a bad match from me. I was just happy. I was focused, played my match point-by-point."
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