Raonic beats Federer to clinch Brisbane International

“He’s been good, but then top 10 is another story”, said Federer, who faces the big-serving Raonic in the final in Brisbane.

Earlier, Tamira Paszek beat fellow qualifier Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-3 in a match that lasted nearly three hours.

The world number three was never in the game, making many unforced errors and showing a rather rusty performance. Raonic’s triumph, just his second over Federer in 11 career tries, lands him his eigth career title and gives him a full head of steam has he heads to the Australian Open.

“Hopefully, a better year this year than last”, said Raonic, who reached the quarterfinals at the last Australian Open but didn’t progress past the third round at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open after skipping the French Open with injury.

“I’m happy with the victory, being in the first final of the season in the first official tournament is something great”, Nadal said.

“Before, when you would see him play you would be, okay, he has a hot streak for a period of time and you see how it’s going to carry him through a 12-month season”, Raonic said.

Raonic is through to the last four for the second consecutive year thanks to a 6-4 6-4 win over Frenchman Lucas Pouille.

Federer, irrepressible in his semi-final win over Dominic Thiem, was off-colour from the start at Pat Rafter Arena and his 25-year-old opponent feasted repeatedly on his wayward backhand.

Missing a regulation forehand victor down the line, Federer gave up a break-point and Raonic captured the decisive break in the eighth game.

Federer struggled with his first service throughout, facing and saving two break points in the fifth game before Raonic made the breakthrough on his second opportunity in the ninth.

This year, the outlook began under something of cloud: Yes, it rained in Brisbane, but the women’s Premier tournament also lost its top three seeds with injury before they had completed a match, and then came rumours that the top seed in the men’s draw, Federer, was ill. Still, the four matches will serve as good preparation for the Australian Open. That’s the thing I was most proud of.

She added that while she didn’t know a lot about Crawford, “Obviously nobody is getting into semifinals by not playing well”.

“I played pretty much ideal tennis today from the very beginning I managed to get every shot the way I wanted”, said Djokovic told gathered reporters.