Canada’s Milos Raonic advances at Sony Open with 6-3, 6-4 win over Becker

MIAMI – Canadian Milos Raonic achieved his first career quarter-final at the Sony Open on Tuesday as he came through on a fourth match point to defeat Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4 in the fourth round.

The day was special in more ways than one for the 23-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., as he won the 100th hardcourt match of his career in the 89-minute victory over his German opponent.

Raonic was frustrated on his first two match point chances in the final game as he tried to end the contest with a break of Becker’s serve.

But Becker thwarted the 12th seed on both winning occasions thanks to Raonic errors.

Raonic went back to work, setting up another match-winner with an overhead from deep in the backcourt only to have Becker save it. Raonic finally claimed victory after a second set which lasted one hour.

Raonic will wait for an opponent as top seed Rafael Nadal faces Italian 14th seed Fabio Fognini. Raonic stands 0-4 against Nadal and split with Fognini in a pair of 2013 matches.

Reaching the quarter-finals was a breakthrough for Raonic, who has stalled at the third round at the last two Sony Opens.

He had to withdraw with strep throat at last year’s edition after going out injured the year before in a walkover to Andy Murray.