Milos Raonic vs Feliciano Lopez Preview – Australian Open 2015 Round 4
After splitting their last four meetings on the professional tour, Milos Raonic and Feliciano Lopez will cross paths for a fifth time to determine who will take the lead in the head-to-head series. Given their strong performances in the third round, this has the makings of an intriguing encounter. Check out the Raonic v Lopez Head to Head.
Watch the match here: Raonic v Lopez Live
During the Day 6 day session, Milos Raonic breezed past Germany’s Benjamin Becker, whom he defeated 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Raonic struck 46 winners, 22 aces and won 83% of his first service points to close out the contest in 1 hour and 41 minutes.
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“I’m happy that I played better than my second round, and that’s all I can really ask from myself” said Raonic. “I focused and executed on what I needed to do.”
While Feliciano Lopez’s match was a tighter affair, he required no more than the necessary three sets to defeat Polish no. 1 Jerzy Janowicz and advance to the fourth round of the tournament. Lopez won the match 7-6(6), 6-4, 7-6(3), and hit 48 winners, 19 aces, and won 80% of his first service points.
“Milos is one of the greatest players in the game right now. I think is going to be very close. He’s probably the great server right now in the game. Is going to be a tight match. Those matches were two, three points that will come by the end. I think it’s going to be difficult to return his serve. Is good that I beat him last time, but doesn’t mean anything because he beat me a couple times before. But I think it’s a great chance for me after being almost out of the tournament to be in the fourth round. I have to be very pleased for that.”
The last time that Lopez and Raonic crossed paths on the professional tour was at last year’s Rogers Cup in Toronto, where the Spaniard upset the local hero in three sets to reach the semi-final round of the tournament. It was their only meeting in 2014 and will likely boost Lopez’s confidence heading into this latest contest in Melbourne. While either is capable of a win, Raonic has been the more consistent player so far and will likely close out the match in four or five sets.
Prediction: Milos Raonic in Five Sets