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Federer handed Raonic a masterclass in clinical tennis
Roger Federer said he was energised by facing younger players after handing Milos Raonic a masterclass in clinical tennis at the Australian Open on Monday to reach a 35th straight Grand Slam quarter-final.
Federer defused the 22-year-old Canadian's serve and held his own comfortably before shifting up the gears when necessary to race to a 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 victory in a little under two hours.
After world number one Novak Djokovic was taken to the brink of defeat in a five-hour thriller against Federer's fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka on Sunday, there was much anticipation that the second seed could face a similar challenge.
'I think I played tactically well tonight'
Big-serving Raonic had taken a set off Federer in all three of their previous meetings but even that never looked likely in their fourth round clash on a cool Rod Laver Arena.
Federer wrapped up the first set when Raonic netted a volley, the second with a brilliant forehand down the line to take the tiebreak 7-4, and the third with another big forehand winner.
"I felt good out there," the 31-year-old said. "I was moving well, had good anticipation and reaction today, which was key obviously on the return. In the third set I started to feel extremely good on the return.
"I played well. I think I played tactically well tonight and was able to keep the points short on my own service games."
'I don't try to hit harder or intimidate them'
The 17-times Grand Slam champion, who is chasing a fifth title at Melbourne Park, will meet seventh seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last eight.
The only man in the tournament who has yet to lose a service game, Federer gave up only five points on his first serve in the match against Raonic.
"Tonight was a very solid night, so I'm very happy," he said. "If I can maintain such a level of play, obviously I'm happy I give myself a chance of going deep in this tournament, which is obviously the goal."
Despite the lesson he handed out to Australian Bernard Tomic in the third round and Raonic on Monday, Federer said he no longer feels he has to make a statement when playing talented youngsters.
"Maybe five years ago, today I'm in a different place. I just try to go out there and play my best, regardless if they're young or not," he said.
"But I get a lift in terms of energy playing against those kind of guys. But I don't try to hit harder or intimidate them because they've seen the big serves and they've seen the great movement around. They know what it's all about.
"I don't play so much with the fear factor and all that stuff. I really just try to beat them. That's the only thing."
'Conditions have slowed down'
Federer has accumulated so many records in his glittering career that extending his mark for most successive last eight appearances at a Grand Slam was never going to excite him too much.
"Obviously times have changed," he said. "Conditions have slowed down. That gives you an opportunity to maybe be more consistent in all four majors ...
"I'm happy to have another one ... But does it drive me? I don't know, I'm not sure. It's a nice record to have. Obviously as it's ongoing, you try to keep working at it."
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