AUSTRALIA – January 20: Images of Milos Raonic of Canada at the Australian Open on January 20

The emphatic way in which Milos Raonic (No. 35) dispatched Cristian Garin (No. 36) of Chile in just one hour and 38 minutes suggests there probably should be more than just one place between them in the ATP Tour rankings. The 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory for Raonic ensured he remains the only Canadian left in singles action at the Australian Open.

Having never faced one another, this meeting in the second round represented their first clash as pros. Raonic had beaten Lorenzo Giustino of Italy 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 in the first round after their match had been delayed due to rain, whilst Garin also overcame an Italian in the form of Stefano Travaglia 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

The stats show that this match in Melbourne was dominated by the Canadian. All in all, Raonic served up 19 aces – adding $1,900 AUD to the amount Tennis Canada will donate to the Australian Red Cross’ bushfire relief fund – successfully converted all four of his break point opportunities and hit 35 winners to just 12 for Garin.

In fact, Raonic began the first set as he continued for the rest of the match – keeping his cool to break Garin’s serve at the first chance he got. Then, he simply held his own serve to ensure he claimed it 6-3.

It was a similar story in the second set as the 29-year-old forced the break in the third game. However, this time, he faced pressure of his own as he fought off three break point opportunities for Garin at 4-3. Fortunately, he was able to come through the hairy moment unscathed.

The third set was the most straight-forward of them all. Raonic broke Garin in the fifth and seventh games to ensure he capped off the match with a dominant 6-2 clincher.

The Canadian will now face No.6-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round after the Greek’s second round opponent, Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany was forced to retire.

In women’s doubles action, Canadian Sharon Fichman and partner Cornelia Lister of Sweden were beaten 7-6(4), 6-2 in the first round by Australian pairing Arina Rodionova and Jaimee Fourlis.

(Feature photo: Peter Staples/ATP Tour)

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