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Wawrinka knocked out of Australian Open by Raonic in five-set epic

Xinhua, January 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

World No. 4 Stanislas Wawrinka has been booted out of the Australian Open, losing to in-form Canadian youngster Milos Raonic in a mammoth five-setter.

Raonic raced out to a two-set lead before the two-time Grand Slam champion clawed his way back to force a fifth and final set on Day 8 of the Australian Open.

A crucial break in sixth game of the last set handed Raonic the ascendency, and the 13th-seed let his all-conquering serve do the rest winning 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3.

Despite Raonic looking to serve and volley to shorten points and, in turn, nullify the 2014 Australian Open champion's exceptional shot-making, the fourth-round match still lasted three hours and 44 minutes.

Raonic, who slammed down 24 aces and won 79 percent of points on his first serve, acknowledged the tactic went a long way toward him bumping off his Swiss opponent for the first time in his career.

"Yeah for sure," he told the Seven network in his court-side interview.

"But I think it's the next step for me to achieve the goals I want to achieve, and I'm always looking for what can I do to do better. I'm always searching for that and working for that."

The 25-year-old has been quietly biding his time on the outside courts of Melbourne Park all week, and took his chance when called up to the main dance on Monday.

"It was great to be here. This is my first victory playing on Rod Laver Arena so that's a nice plus," he said.

The win keeps Roanic undefeated in 2016, and the gives the Canadian a golden chance to equal his best effort at a Slam after he reached the semifinals of Wimbledon last year.

Standing in Roanic's way is laconic Frenchman Gael Monfils, who earlier on Monday posted a personal best at the Australian Open by reaching the quarter-finals.

Raonic has never beaten the Monfils in their two previous meetings, and said he couldn't let the explosive clay courter get up to his old tricks if that was to change in Melbourne.

"Like always, I've got to try to dictate (against Monfils). I've got to find my way forward and keep him out of rhythm as much as possible," Raonic said. Endi