Canadian Milos sent out Stan Wawrinka, the 2013 Champion, in five sets of 6/3, 6/2, 5/7, 4/6, 6/3, in three hours and 45 minutes for his first ever victory over the Swiss player in their career match-ups.

In segments of the Rod Laver Arena, supporters waved flags of their two countries; the white cross on red for Switzerland and the maple leaf in white framed by red for Canada.

The Canadian delivered a total of 24 aces, while his opponent hit nine, which gave him the edge to win points on his service games. The aggressiveness gave Raonic a greater tally of 167 points to Wawrinka’s 153, with the corresponding higher number of unforced errors.

With the awesome service power, Raonic presented Wawrinka no service breaks. He, however, converted just one out of three opportunities, which was sufficient for him to take the set first set in 38 minutes.

In the second set, Raonic sustained the momentum as he opened serving again, Wawrinka raised his first service deliveries to 70 per cent, but the Canadian won every time he got his service in, while Wawrinka won only half of the points on his first serve.

This made a lot of difference, resulting in Raonic winning three of four break opportunities. The Swiss won the game off his opponent’s serve only on the single time he had it. After 38 minutes, Raonic was leading two sets to love and an upset seemed likely.

Warwinka raised his service level in the third set, and won more points on first service deliveries although Raonic hammered down six aces. This allowed Wawrinka to escape break point in the whole set, while he took one of the three he had, to win the set by seven games to five in 46 minutes.

The first game of the fourth set was fought over 12 minutes.

Serving first, Raonic had the first game point that Wawrinka cancelled with a winning shot. The power serve gave him advantage that was lost yet again. Next, he faced a break point, but an ace saved it. Facing yet another break point, he charged the net and hit a winning volley. He held on to the game with a service winner.

Wawrinka lost the first point of the second by an unforced error but brought his service power to take the next three points to level one game apiece.

The games went with serve until Wawrinka broke Raonic in the fifth game in which he went up 15-40 with his signature backhand, while Raonic double-faulted at game point.

The 2014 Australian Open Champion consolidated the break to lead 5-3. Raonic struggled to take the ninth game on his serve, but Wawrinka did not drop a point on his serve to take the 10th game and clinch the set 6-4 in 46 minutes.

Each player held serve in the decisive fifth set. In the sixth, with Raonic up 3-2, Wawrinka had game point but Raonic pushed him deep and charged the net to make a volley winner. An ace serve gave Wawrinka another game point that he lost.

Raonic also lost a game point on a service return error, but on his next opportunity, he clinched the break with an overhead smash. He extended the lead to 5-2 without dropping a point on his serve.

Serving to stay in the match, Wawrinka hit a double-fault on the first point, got into lead with a crosscourt backhand passing shot, faced a break point once more before taking the game to reduce tally 5-3.

Serving for the match, Raonic won the first three points, delivering a 220 kph serve to reach match point. He followed with a powerful serve to make a volley winner at the net and win the set 6-3 in 41 minutes. The upset was sealed.