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Lleyton Hewitt vs Milos Raonic: Australian Open live scores, blog

Roar Guru
21st January, 2012
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Lleyton Hewitt faces rising star Milos Raonic for a place in the fourth round of the Australian Open. Join us for live scores and blog later this evening.

Along with Bernard Tomic, Canadian Milos Raonic is recognised as the ATP’s finest young talent at present, experiencing a breakout 2011 season.

The big serving Canadian made the fourth round in his first appearance at the Australian Open last year, and also went on to win his maiden ATP World Tour title at the San Jose Open.

Raonic also made the final of the Regions Morgan Keegan Tennis Championships in Memphis, where he lost to Andy Roddick in a tight three setter.

The 21 year old has also begun 2012 on a bright note, winning the Aircel Chennai Open, beating Janko Tipsarevic in the final.

Hewitt meanwhile is starting to regain the fitness and form that still makes him one of the more competitive players on the ATP tour.

In his second round match against Roddick, Hewitt managed to return serve very well, which in turn allowed him to dominate the match before the American retired hurt.

Prediction:

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As was the case against Roddick, Hewitt still ranks as one of the better returners on the ATP tour, so expect the Australian to once again rely on his terrific counter-punching tactics to frustrate Raonic.

Such a tactic however may not be enough to unsettle the Canadian.

Despite possessing a serve that can generate speeds well over 200km/h, Raonic can also hit strong winners from the baseline, particularly off his forehand side.

At his best, Raonic is a carbon copy of Juan Martin del Potro thanks to the Canadian’s ability to produce deep, flat groundstrokes that can penetrate the best defensive players on the ATP tour.

With this in mind, Hewitt must go on the offensive a lot more than usual if he is to keep the big serving Canadian at bay.

Overall, Raonic certainly possesses the bigger weapons here. While it is a given that Hewitt will toil hard, one feels that the Canadian will simply have too much firepower for the Australian to handle.

Raonic to win in four sets.

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