Australian Open: Novak Djokovic Enters 25th Grand Slam Semifinal
The No. 1-ranked player cruised through his quarterfinal without ever facing a break point by his 24-year-old opponent, a rising Canadian star known for having one of the biggest serves in the game.
Novak Djokovic reached his 25th Grand Slam semifinal by beating No. 8 Milos Raonic, 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-2 at the Australian Open on Wednesday.
The No. 1-ranked player cruised through his quarterfinal without ever facing a break point by his 24-year-old opponent, a rising Canadian star known for having one of the biggest serves in the game.
Djokovic is trying to claim his fifth Australian Open trophy.
He broke Raonic early in each of the second and third sets and will play defending champion Stan Wawrinka, who earlier beat Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (6). Wawrinka let slip a 6-1 lead in the third-set tiebreaker and eventually needed six match points to close the victory on Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic looked impressive as he proceeds towards a fifth Australian Open title, adding to the ones he captured in 2008 (his first major), and three years in a row from 2011.
With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal gone from the other side of the draw, Andy Murray, if he beats Tomas Berdych in the other semifinal on Thursday, could be his major opposition for another trophy.
Djokovic said he was impressed with how well he played.
"Great, great performance," Djokovic said about himself. "Definitely no complaints. I returned very well, tried to get as many of the balls back in play."
Djokovic faces defending champion Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals, for a rematch of last year's Australian Open quarterfinal that Wawrinka won.