It wasn't a regulation victory but Alex de Minaur is through to second round of the Australian Open after an early retirement from Milos Raonic at Rod Laver Arena on Monday night.
The 10th seed will play rising Italian talent Matteo Arnaldi in the next round after outlasting Raonic 6-7(6) 6-3 2-0 retired with the Canadian pulling the pin after one hour and 55 minutes.
De Minaur was on top of the match when Raonic quit, with the Canadian veteran struggling once again with injury after missing most of the last four years on the tour with fitness issues.
Raonic started the better of the two players, forcing De Minaur to save two early break points and looking comfortable on his serve.
However, a sign of things to come was evident at 4-5 in the first set when Raonic took an off-court injury timeout.
The Canadian returned to get the set to a tiebreaker before he used all of his reserves to ward off a De Minaur set point before closing it out himself 8-6.
But in the fifth game of the second set, De Minaur broke Raonic and managed to serve out the second set eventually despite needing to save a break point at 5-3.
De Minaur broke in the opening game of the third set and after the world no.10 held his serve to make it 2-0, Raonic suddenly withdrew from the match.
It was an important victory for the Australian, who can save precious energy reserves before facing Arnaldi in the second round.
The pair have never met previously but Arnaldi helped Italy defeat Australia in the recent Davis Cup final, beating Alexei Popyrin in three sets.
WATCH: Alex de Minaur vs. Milos Raonic video highlights courtesy of Stan Sport
Alex de Minaur vs. Milos Raonic final score
| Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | |
| [10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) | 6(6) | 6 | 2 |
| Milos Raonic (CAN) | 7(8) | 3 | 0 ret. |
The Sporting News followed the Alex de Minaur vs. Milos Raonic match live, providing score updates, commentary, and highlights as it happened.
*Denotes server
Alex de Minaur vs. Milos Raonic video highlights
Alex de Minaur vs. Milos Raonic updates, highlights and commentary
DE MINAUR WINS AFTER RAONIC RETIREMENT - De Minaur* 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 2-0 ret. Raonic
Suddenly Raonic pulls the pin on the match. It's been evident the Canadian has been trying to shorten the points and it's also become apparent that De Minaur is now on top. The crowd groans and then cheers, but it's De Minaur through to the next round.
De Minaur* 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 2-0 Raonic
After dropping the first point, De Minaur delivers two excellent serves that both contribute it to it becoming 30-15. Raonic shows his power to hit a forehand winner. 30-30. A wide swinging serve earns game point for the world no.10. But Raonic fights back by eventually earning a put-away smash. Deuce. Raonic goes long. Adv. De Minaur. The Australian serves an ace down the middle to consolidate the break.
De Minaur 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 1-0 Raonic*
The two players trade the first two points of the service game. A double fault from Raonic gives De Minaur a look at 15-30 but a booming serve draws it back to 30-30. Raonic nets and it's an early break point to the Aussie. The Canadian drags a backhand wide and it's an early break to De Minaur.
DE MINAUR WINS SECOND SET - De Minaur* 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 Raonic
A long rally sees the crowd go wild as Raonic nets. De Minaur follows up with a forehand put-away to make it 30-0. Raonic goes wide and the Aussie has three set points on his serve. First one is saved after he nets. Another one is gone after Raonic makes an excellent shot at De Minaur's feet, who can only net the half-volley. A long rally sees De Minaur go long and Raonic force deuce from three set points down. Raonic has De Minaur running side-to-side, with the Aussie error making an incredible break back point for Raonic. But the Canadian hits wide and it's deuce. De Minaur pumps his fists after hitting a wonderful forehand down the line after running around. Fourth set point. Raonic takes De Minaur side to side but goes wide and the 'Demon' draws level.
De Minaur 6-7 (6-8) 5-3 Raonic*
Raonic runs De Minaur around the court and then forces the error. 15-0. The Aussie nets from a serve. 30-0. De Minaur finally gets one on Raonic's serve as he clubs winner off the second delivery. Raonic nets following a long rally and it's 30-30. A precise backhand winner from Raonic gives him game point on his serve. And another excellently angled shot earns his service as De Minaur slices wide.
De Minaur* 6-7 (6-8) 5-2 Raonic
The crowd roars as De Minaur gets the first points of the game. The Aussie nets to see the score to 30-15 but Raonic floats a return long and it's game point to the 10th seed. Raonic makes it interesting by forcing an error from De Minaur. But the Canadian nets next point and De Minaur consolidates the break.
De Minaur 6-7 (6-8) 4-2 Raonic*
De Minaur gets a second serve from Raonic and forces the Canadian to net. A wide ball from Raonic makes it 0.30 to the Australian. The 10th seed misses a bunt down the line. 15-30. Raonic draws back to 30-30 with a ripping serve but then misses a forehand following point to give De Minaur a break chance. The Aussie gets a second serve but rips his backhand long to the disappointment of the crowd. However, a poor half volley from the veteran gives De Minaur another break point. Raonic comes to the net, De Minaur executes the lob and it's a break for the Aussie.
De Minaur* 6-7 (6-8) 3-2 Raonic
Both players are racing through their service games at the moment. Raonic gets one point but it's an easy hold for De Minaur.
De Minaur* 6-7 (6-8) 2-2 Raonic*
Raonic is also relaxed through his service game. The Canadian is setting up points with his serve and then crunching winners. He races to 40-0. An ace down the T gets the hold to love.
De Minaur* 6-7 (6-8) 2-1 Raonic
The Australian finally has a really comfortable service game as he holds to love. This is a dogfight. Raonic is winding back the clock with his level of serving and forehand winners.
De Minaur 6-7 (6-8) 1-1 Raonic*
After finding himself 0-15, Raonic draws on two excellent serves and he is 30-15 up. De Minaur nets a return to make it 40-15. Raonic crunches another winner and we are still on serve after two games. The Canadian is looking real solid at the moment.
De Minaur* 6-7 (6-8) 1-0 Raonic
The Aussie immediately serves an ace before forcing an unreturned serve. 30-0. Raonic gets one back by contributing to a De Minaur error. The Aussie drills an ace to bring up game point. Raonic lands a forehand down the line. 40-30. But 'Demon' closes it out with an excellent serve Raonic can't get back in.
RAONIC WINS FIRST SET - De Minaur 6-7 Raonic
The Australian hits long on Raonic's first set point and he loses the opener to the former world no.3. Could there be an upset of the Aussie home favourite?
Tie-break: De Minaur* 6-7 Raonic
Raonic melts an ace on the edge of the line and saves a set point. And an angled forehand sets up his own set point on De Minaur's serve.
Tie-break: De Minaur 6-5 Raonic*
The Aussie gets the mini-break finally after Raonic hits an easy put-away long. But he gives it away with a double fault. Raonic nets and we are back on serve but set point De Minaur.
Tie-break: De Minaur 4-3 Raonic*
Points continue to go with the server. Raonic does have De Minaur in trouble at 3-3 but nets. 4-3 and on serve after seven points.
Tie-break: De Minaur 2-1 Raonic*
Raonic starts the breaker with an ace before De Minaur wins two long rallies on his serve. Tiebreak on serve after three.
De Minaur* 6-6 Raonic
Raonic looks in control of the first but De Minaur scrambles, recovers and forces the error. He then clobbers a winner to make it 30-0. The Canadian nets halfway up and it's 40-0. Looks like a tiebreak is on its way. And it is with a long Raonic forehand.
De Minaur 5-6 Raonic*
The Canadian responds with his own confidence in his service game. Backed by his booming serve, he gets out to 30-0. But De Minaur's excellent passing shot brings it back to 30-15 but an ace from the Wimbledon finalist earns two game points. Raonic only needs one.
De Minaur* 5-5 Raonic
Clearly frustrated at Raonic's break, De Minaur celebrates all his service points with a 'cmon' as he holds to love with a clinical hold. Will the game break open shortly?
Raonic off-court
The Canadian is receiving an off-court medical timeout. He appeared to be limping during the recent game but his general movement looked to be okay. De Minaur doesn't appear happy at the timing.
After a three-to-four minute break, Raonic returns to the court with bounce.
De Minaur 4-5 Raonic*
De Minaur gets fired up after hitting a winner to make it 15-15 on Raonic serve. But the big Canadian is just such an excellent server. He leans into his strength and closes out the game, with De Minaur failing to return a serve.
De Minaur* 4-4 Raonic
The Australian adjusts to the let cord and clips a winner down the line. Raonic just misses his own winner and it's 30-0 to De Minaur. An unreturned serve sees the Aussie get game point. And another sees De Minaur hold comfortably to love.
De Minaur 3-4 Raonic*
The crowd goes wild after De Minaur retrieves Raonic's drop half-volley and hits a winner to make it 30-30. De Minuar hits long to hand game point to the Canadian, who hits an unreturned serve to hold.
De Minaur* 3-3 Raonic
Raonic is making plenty of unforced errors. The Canadian's mistakes sees De Minaur race to a 40-lead. The Aussie nets while going for the game-to-love. An incredible return-winner combo from Raonic gets him back to 30-40 down. De Minaur uncharacteristically hits long and it's deuce. Raonic drills a winner down the line and it's a third break point of the set for the Canadian. De Minaur saves it with the serve-put-away combo. Raonic goes long and it's advantage to the Australian. De Minaur drills a backhand winner to hold his serve.
De Minaur 2-3 Raonic*
Aggression from De Minaur sees him hit two down the line winners to bring up 0-30 on Raonic's serve. However, the big Canadian responds with an ace to relieve the pressure. Raonic gets the next point to bring it back to 30-0. After a big ace down the middle, Raonic serves an ace out the wide to hold his service. The Canada star can also get himself out of trouble.
De Minaur* 2-2 Raonic
Slightly nervous start for the crowd favourite, but you feel he is starting to settle in. He gets to 30-0 via a volley and a Raonic error. The Canadian nets twice to give De Minaur a service hold to love.
De Minaur 1-2 Raonic*
Excellent serving from the Canadian early. He gets to 30-0 with two unreturned serves. Raonic nets one backcourt shot but then serves two consecutive aces to secure another comfortable service hold.
De Minaur* 1-1 Raonic
The Aussie serves an ace to begin his service game. But drops the next three points with errors to concede two early break points. De Minaur comes to the net to save one, forcing an error from Raonic. The Canadian nets a return next point and we are at deuce. Great fightback De Minaur, who saves two break points and takes his opening serve.
De Minaur 0-1 Raonic*
Raonic races to 40-0 - the pick of his points being a crosscourt forehand winner on the line. The big Canadian serves an ace to win his first service game to love. Impressive start for Raonic. Trying to take the crowd out of it.
Start
Milos Raonic won the toss and will serve first.
Prematch: Both players have entered the court. There is a large pro-De Minaur crowd at Rod Laver Arena tonight.
Prematch: This time, De Minaur will be the hot favourite after breaking into the top 10. Raonic has had significant injury issues over the last few years but played in the last two majors of 2023.
Prematch: De Minaur and Raonic have only met once before - at Brisbane International 2018 - with the Aussie snaring an upset in straight sets 6-4 6-4.
Prematch: With the day session already concluding on Rod Laver Arena, we can expect this match to start shortly after it's scheduled time of 7:00pm (AEDT).
Prematch: Welcome to this tasty first-round match-up between rising Australian Alex de Minaur and former world no.3 Milos Raonic at Rod Laver Arena.
*Denotes server
How to watch Alex de Minaur vs. Milos Raonic
Television
Being Australia's best hope at the major, De Minaur will be telecast live on free-to-air TV via Channel Nine's main and HD channel
Live stream
De Minaur's opening round contest can be watched on live stream via Stan Sport, which has every game live via their platform.
Channel Nine's free streaming service 9Now will also have the game available to watch.
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