'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Match Details
Fixture: (10) Alex de Minaur vs Milos Raonic
Date: Monday, January 15, 2024
Tournament: Australian Open 2024
Round: First Round (Round of 128)
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor hard
Prize money: $39,264,000
Live telecast: USA - ESPN, Tennis Channel | Australia - Nine Network | UK - Eurosport | India and Indian Subcontinent - Sony Sports Network
Alex de Minaur vs Milos Raonic preview
World No. 10 and local favorite Alex de Minaur begins his quest for a home slam against former No. 3 Milos Raonic in an enticing first-round clash.
The Sydney native comes into Melbourne on the back of an impressive showing at the United Cup for the home team. Despite losing his opening game, de Minaur won his next two, including a straight-sets win over Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, giving him his first win over a World No. 1. He beat Alexander Zverev in the semis coming back from a set down, but Australia went down in the doubles rubber, ultimately losing the tie 1-2 to eventual champions Germany.
Alex de Minaur is coming off a great 2023 season where he won his first Masters 500 tournament in Mexico. He also reached his first Masters 1000 final and climbed back into the top 15. He lost to Novak Djokovic in the fourth round of last year's tournament, which is his best showing at a Grand Slam along with the US Open in 2023.
Milos Raonic, meanwhile, is making his season debut after a first-round loss at the US Open to Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. The 2016 Wimbledon finalist returned to the tour last year after a long hiatus with injuries. He didn't play last year's Australian Open and featured only in Wimbledon and at the US Open.
Alex de Minaur vs Milos Raonic head-to-head
Alex de Minaur and Milos Raonic have faced off once before in Brisbane back in 2018. de Minaur won that in straight sets and thus leads their head-to-head 1-0.
Alex de Minaur vs Milos Raonic odds
(Odds to be updated once added)
Alex de Minaur vs Milos Raonic prediction
Home favorite Alex de Minaur holds the edge over Milos Raonic heading into their first-round clash. He comes in on the back of some good form that saw him beat World No. 1 Novak Djokovic at the United Cup in the beginning of the season.
Alex de Minaur's energetic and tenacious baseline game coupled with his familiarity with the Melbourne heat could help him edge out a rusty Raonic who last played at the 2023 US Open. The Canadian has been plagued by injuries the last couple of years and is yet to rediscover the form that helped him reach the Wimbledon finals in 2016.
Despite his strong serve and powerful shots, de Minaur's court coverage and hot run of form should prove to be too strong for Raonic.
Pick: Alex de Minaur in straight sets.
