2021 Australian Open Round of 16 – Novak Djokovic vs Milos Raonic Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Novak Djokovic vs Milos Raonic taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Novak Djokovic vs Milos Raonic on and what time does it start? Sunday 14th February, 2021 – not before 09:15 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Novak Djokovic vs Milos Raonic? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Novak Djokovic vs Milos Raonic on? The 2021 Australian Open will be televised on Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedule for this specific match
Where can I stream Novak Djokovic vs Milos Raonic in the UK? Sky customers can stream this match on the Sky Go app. Alternatively, the match can be streamed to subscribers of Eurosport Player, either on the official website or as an add-on to an Amazon Prime subscription
THE LOWDOWN
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
- It took Novak Djokovic five sets to beat Taylor Fritz in their third round match on Friday as the world number one battled a worrying shoulder injury we have seen him suffer before.
- The 33-year-old expressed a loud outburst of vented frustration as he saw off his second tough challenge after a second round struggle against Frances Tiafoe and he will need to recover well again in time for the round of 16.
MILOS RAONIC
- It was a predictably hard match between world number 15 Milos Raonic and number 55 Marton Fucsovics but the 14th seed managed to weather the Hungarian’s challenge well to make the round of 16.
- 30-year-old Raonic has failed to beat Novak Djokovic in 11 previous meetings now with the Canadian’s big service game often neutralised by the best returner the game has ever seen.
THE PREDICTION
Milos Raonic made it one step further at this tournament last year before losing via the well-trodden path of Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, though he is in better shape this time around. Arguably, 33-year-old Djokovic is probably in worse shape too after two long, hot and heavy matches against the USA’s Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz. It is rare to see the Serb play so many sets by this stage of a Grand Slam and if Raonic can take advantage of his opponent’s potential fatigue there could be the whiff of a first win over the Serb here. Raonic has rarely taken a set off Djokovic before but he looks well capable of doing so here. Therefore, both players to win a set in a Novak Djokovic win seems a reasonable outcome. That is, if the world number one recovers in time to play. Unfortunately, there is a relatively high chance of the Serb being forced to retire from this match so it is probably not one for the accumulators.
