More Upsets On Day 2 In Melbourne

The upsets are continuing on Day 2 at the Australian Open. Former Australian Open semi-finalist Milos Raonic, the 22^nd seed this year, has been eliminated by Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko.

The 30-year-old Lacko, No. 86 in the ATP Rankings, overcame 36 aces from the 6’5” Raonic to advance to the second round 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(4).

It’s one of the biggest wins of Lacko’s career. The right-hander is 0-18 against Top 10 players but he improved to 14-30 at Grand Slams. Raonic was playing in his second match of the season after falling in his opener at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp to #NextGenATP Aussie Alex de Minaur. The former World No. 3 ended his season in October because of a right calf muscle tear.

Lacko will next meet Argentina’s Nicolas Kicker or Aussie Jordan Thompson in the second round.

In an all-Spanish clash, Fernando Verdasco improved to 4-1 against Roberto Bautista Agut in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. Verdasco broke seven times and won 83 per cent of his first-serve points (45/54) to advance 6-1, 7-5, 7-5. Bautista Agut won his seventh ATP World Tour title on Saturday at the ASB Classic in Auckland (d. Del Potro).

Verdasco will next face German Maximilian Marterer, who beat countryman in Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.