Canadian Qualifier Heads into Deep Waters

Milos Raonic.(credit: Wikipedia.org)

If Milos Raonic is smiling its because the 20-year-old Canadian qualifier at this year’s Australian Open Grand Slam Tennis Tournament has the fastest serve in the first three rounds of the tournament at 143 mph. Not only that, Raonic, from Thornhill, Ontario, Canada fired 32 aces while upsetting No. 10 Mikhail Youzhny 6/4, 7/5, 4/6, 6/4 in the third round yesterday. He now faces a very tough No. 7 David Ferrer in the Round of 16, who brushed aside Richard Berankis 6/2, 6/2, 6/1.

''I didn't really count myself out.  I knew the chances were in his favor, but I knew I was prepared to fight for every point, however long it took,'' said Raonic, who was born in Montenegro and moved to Canada in 1994. ''I can't say I would be shocked if I wasn't here. But I'm not really shocked I am here.''

Raonic’s career prize money stands at $124,433. By reaching the fourth round, he has already guaranteed himself at least $93,000. This ATP Tour newcomer’s ranking is currently 155 and will rise at least 47 spots to 105 by tournaments end, which will allow him straight entry into the Grand Slam Events and moving slowly toward not having to worry about qualifying rounds, ATP Challenger events or ITF Futures events where he holds four titles.

Not since 2001 has a Canadian reached the 4^th round of a Grand Slam event and that was Greg Rusedski who ultimately who reached a ranking of 4^th in the world in 1997.  Roanic has been compared to Rusedki and relishes the idea of following a similar path. Keep an eye on Milos Raonic; this Canadian talent is certainly poised to reach the top rankings within a short period of time.