Australian John Millman will look to build on a strong first-round effort at Wimbledon, but it won’t come easy when he takes on big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:30pm (AEST)
The Aussie displayed some solid form in the lead-up to the the third grand slam of the year, as well as during the third round, but taking on Millman poses a completely different challenge.
Millman is in what could well be described as career-best form. As it stands, he was ranked 56 coming into Wimbledon which is a career-high. After a win over Stefano Travaglia in the first round of Wimbledon, he has moved inside the top 50 in the live rankings.
Further victories and a semi-decent run here could well leave him in line for a possible seeded spot when we roll around to the US Open in September.
Millman had to work hard for his four-set first round victory over Travaglia. He dropped the first set in a tie breaker, but came back strongly winning 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 from there.
The way he was able to bounce back and not lose the plot goes to show Millman’s best quality – he will fight doggedly for every single point, even when he is being outplayed.
A skill like that one will come in handy against Raonic, because there will be times he will get beaten up by the Canadian’s serve.
Raonic has one of the biggest serves in world tennis and it serves him well on grass, with the Canadian a former finalist at the All England Club when he lost to Andy Murray in 2016.
His form isn’t quite at that level, but he still proved it to be solid with an appearance in the final at Stuttgart where he went down to Roger Federer.
He is vulnerable though. Raonic is susceptible to poor performances and struggles to break opposition serves. If his goes off the boil and Millman is patient, then there is no reason the Australian won’t be able to pounce and claim a break.
Raonic did run straight over the top of Liam Broady in the first round though, winning 7-5, 6-0, 6-1, improving his level the more the match went on.
Prediction
The Canadian should win and win well. You can always bet Millman will put up a fight, and each set will go a considerable distance, but it’s hard to see the Aussie taking one off him.
Raonic in straight, but hard-fought sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this second round match at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships from 8:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me for this one as Milos Raonic beat John Millman. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. The Roar will be back with more from Wimbledon tomorrow. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, MILOS RAONIC It took three tie breakers and a really hard-fought battle, but Milos Raonic is going to get the job done with an overhead at the net. John Millman put in a really good effort there, but was just outdone by a bigger serve and better net play at the end of the day. John Millman 6 6 6 Milos Raonic 7 7 7
Scott Pryde
Expert
That's two saved. Big serve down the middle and Raonic edges the return into the crowd. Millman 6 6 6 - 4 Raonic 7 7 6 - 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman saves one as Raonic makes a mistake on the forehand volley, sending it well long. Millman 6 6 6 - 3 Raonic 7 7 6 - 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Raonic. Millman opens up the court nicely there, but again hesitates up to the net, playing a backhand half volley into the net. Four match points. Millman 6 6 6 - 2 Raonic 7 7 6 - 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman gets one point back, but Raonic now has two on his racquet to end the match. Millman 6 6 6 - 2 Raonic 7 7 6 - 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman with a good serve, but Raonic nails the forehand return and grabs a full break. That's the end of that you'd have to think. Millman 6 6 6 - 1 Raonic 7 7 6 - 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
Raonic manages to hang onto the mini-break. He gets to the net, plays a few volleys and then answers a lob with an overhead. Millman 6 6 6 - 1 Raonic 7 7 6 - 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman still jumping around. Still trying to save the match. Impossible though as Raonic pains the centre service line with an ACE! Millman 6 6 6 - 1 Raonic 7 7 6 - 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Marvellous shot from Millman. He is still down the mini-break, but he plays a cracking two-handed backhand past Raonic who had come to the net. Millman 6 6 6 - 1 Raonic 7 7 6 - 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
Raonic returns well this time, stays in the point and then Millman plays a forehand, sending it long. He will challenge, but that's out. Millman 6 6 6 - 0 Raonic 7 7 6 - 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
That is a huge serve to start the tiebreaker from Millman. Right at the body and the Aussie had no chance. Millman 6 6 6 - 0 Raonic 7 7 6 - 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman serves to the forehand side and Raonic finds the net. Last chance for Millman. We are off to another breaker. TIEBREAKER Millman 6 6 6 - Raonic 7 7 6 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
A fault, then one out wide. Raonic returns to the baseline, then finds the net on an attempted drop shot. Millman 6 6 5 - 40 Raonic 7 7 6 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman grabs the first two points on serve here as he tries to force a tie breaker. Millman 6 6 5 - 30 Raonic 7 7 6 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Big serve and Raonic holds. Millman 6 6 5 - Raonic 7 7 6 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Raonic goes wide on the serve. Millman goes crosscourt on the return, keeping it love and the volley from Raonic finds the net. Millman 6 6 5 - 15 Raonic 7 7 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Raonic goes down the T. Millman 6 6 5 - 0 Raonic 7 7 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Raonic with a serve and volley. He needs a second volley to get it over the line. Millman 6 6 5 - 0 Raonic 7 7 5 - 30