Day 10 of Australian Open 2019, and the remaining quarter finals.
Third match on Rod Laver Arena was:
Milos Raonic (16) (CAN) v Lucas Pouille (28) (FRA)
Raonic served first.
An expected start, with two aces and a service winner for the Canadian and 1-0. Two Raonic forehand winners and he converted on the first of two break points, a Pouille unforced error the final shot. 2-0.
A love game from Raonic including three straight aces. 3-0. Pouille was on the board, feeding well off the Raonic backhand and he held for 1-3.
Raonic double faulted to hand Pouille a break point. It was saved, and Raonic delivered an ace and winning forehand to hold for 4-1.
Pouille’s love game was sealed with an ace and he kept within a single break 2-4.
Raonic focused on the French forehand with success and he clinched the game with a backhand winner. 5-2.
Pouille did likewise, the Raonic forehand no good and serve held for France. 3-5.
Serving for the set, Raonic began with an ace. However, Pouille winners from both wings helped him to two break points. An unforced Raonic error and games were back on serve. 4-5.
Pouille levelled at 5-5, based on an ace and winning forehand.
Down three break points, Raonic was solid, an ace and winners from either side saving him. He held for 6-5.
Pouille sent it to a tie break, a service winner sealing the 6-6 game.
The tie break was on serve with Raonic at the line 3-4. A double fault cost him and Pouille had 5-4 with two serves to come. Two forehand winners and the set was his 7-6(4).
Two aces featured in the opening game of set two, as Pouille led 1-0. Raonic also delivered a pair of aces to level at 1-1. Raonic was forced into three forehand errors and Pouille led 2-1. An unforced Raonic backhand error gave Pouille a break chance, and he grabbed it by drilling a backhand winner to go ahead 3-1.
Pouille consolidated the break, a forehand winner sealing the game. 4-1.
At 5-3, Pouille served for the set. Three winners created three set points.
An ace on the first set point and Pouille was ahead 7-6(4) 6-3.
In set three, no breaks of serve, although Raonic had to save two break points in both games seven and nine.
The tie break was one way traffic as the Canadian jumped to 5-0, finally taking it and the set 7-6(2).
Although Pouille played a disappointing tie break, his standard didn’t drop in general play, as exemplified by the opening game of set four. Pouille held serve for the loss of just one point. 1-0. Raonic saved break point with a forehand winner, and held serve with a service winner. 1-1.
No break points faced after that game, until after Pouille had held for 5-4.
Raonic had a game point which was lost with a French forehand winner.
Two match points were saved but on the third, Raonic hit an unforced backhand error.
Lucas Pouille won the way into his first ever Grand Slam tournament semi final, 7-6(4) 6-3 6-7(2) 6-4.
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