Canadian Milos Raonic handed second seed Andy Murray a claycourt humiliation on Friday as the big-hitting youngster hammered the Scot 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to reach the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open.
Raonic, ranked 25th, will be playing in his second career clay semi-final on Saturday against third seed David Ferrer who reached the last four for a sixth consecutive year by beating Spanish compatriot Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.
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Murray was to have been Raonic’s opponent in Miami last month, but the Canadian had to withdraw injured before that hardcourt showdown.u00a0With the scene shifted to clay, the momentum went with the Canadian as he took the biggest scalp of his fast-rising career in just under one and three-quarter hours at the Real Club de Tenis. Meanwhile, top seed and World No 2 Rafael Nadal defeated Serb Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 6-2 in another semi-final.