Music: {allcanada} Raonic advances to third round of U.S. Open

Thursday, August 30, 2012

{allcanada} Raonic advances to third round of U.S. Open

NEW YORK -- Another career first for Milos Raonic.

The hard-hitting 21-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., defeated Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(4) at the U.S. Open on Thursday, firing 30 aces to advance to the third round here for the first time in his career.

More importantly, Raonic is the first Canadian male to get this far in this event in 24 years. Montreal's Martin Laurendeau reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 1988.

The 15th-seeded Raonic needed two hours and 10 minutes to clinch the win. He'll face the winner of the second-round match between American James Blake and 24th-seeded Spaniard Marcel Granollers.