SAN JOSE, Calif. - Canadian Milos Raonic advanced to the quarter-final of the SAP Open with a 6-2, 7-6(4) second-round win over American James Blake on Wednesday.
It's the second ATP quarter-final appearance of the 20 year old's career.
The hard-serving resident of Thornhill, Ont., fired 13 aces past Blake, who formerly held down fifth spot on the ATP rankings. In two matches Raonic has served 33 aces and faced only a handful of break points.
Raonic advanced to the second round with a straight-sets win over world No. 45 Xavier Malisse. It was the fourth time this season Raonic has defeated an opponent ranked in the top 50.
It's been a breakout season so far for Raonic. He reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and saw his ATP ranking jump to No. 84.
Raonic will take on Richard Berankis of Lithuania in Friday's quarter-final.
The 74th-ranked Berankis beat American Donald Young 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 in the second round.
In first-round matches, Croatia's Ivo Karlovic defeated American Ryan Sweeting 6-4, 6-4 and will meet the winner of a later match between top-seeded Fernando Verdasco and Rajeev Ram.
American Robert Kendrick downed Russian Igor Kunitsyn 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 and will meet the winner of the late match between No. 2 seed Gael Monfils and Bradley Klahn.
With files from The Associated Press.
