LONDON – Milos Raonic joined Euegnie Bouchard in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon as the talented pair continued their run at the record books.
Eighth seed Raonic achieved his best career showing at the All England Club on Tuesday with a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-3 fourth-round win Japanese 10th seed Kei Nishikori.
Raonic becomes just the second Canadian to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals in the Open era, which began in 1968.
Bouchard made her way there on Monday with a defeat of Alize Cornet. She will face off in the next round against German ninth seed Angelique Kerber, who upset fifth seed Maria Sharapova 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-4, winning on a seventh match point.
Bouchard hammered Kerber in the French Open fourth round a month ago.
Raonic laid down 34 aces in his victory over Nishikori, who is coached by former French Open winner Michael Chang. Raonic broke three times, saved five break points against his serve and ended with 64 winners in the comprehensive victory.
The 23-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., became the first Canadian to defeat Nishikori. The Japanese player had won his previous six matches against Canadians, including two against Raonic.
In men’s doubles, veteran Daniel Nestor of Toronto and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic finished off a rain-delayed match from Monday as the third seeds reached the quarter-finals over Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay and David Marrero of Spain 7-6 (8), 6-4, 6-4.
Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock reached the third round over India’s Rohan Bopanna and Aisam Quereshi of Pakistan 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-3, 7-5.
Raonic opened the match by losing his first service game, which allowed Nishikori to win the opening set in 39 minutes.
Raonic fought hard to come back. He broke twice in the second set to get back level at a set each, and won the third set on a tiebreaker.
Raonic earned a late break in the eighth game of the fourth set, then set up a match point with a service winner and advanced on his first opportunity a game later.
The Canadian will play the winner from second seed Rafael Nadal and Australian wild card Nick Kyrgios.
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