Raonic serves up storm to pummel Pouille at Open

MELBOURNE – Canada’s big-serving Milos Raonic pounded Frenchman Lucas Pouille to glide into the second round at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

The 13th-seed, who conquered Roger Federer in the final of the lead-up Brisbane International, swept through 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in just 86 minutes on Show Court Two.

Pouille had no answer to Raonic’s superior weaponry as the Canadian broke his serve four times with the Frenchman failing to get one break point on his opponent’s formidable serve.

Raonic thundered down 12 aces with a fastest serve clocked at 234 kph (145 mph) and an average of 196 kph (122 mph) throughout the contest.

The Canadian reached the quarter-finals of last year’s Australian Open as the eighth seed before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

He will next play either Tunisian Malek Jaziri or Spaniard Tommy Robredo next. (AFP)