Australian Open Day 12 Preview: Raonic-Murray Battle for Chance to Play Djokovic in Men’s Final

We have almost reached the end of 2016’s first Grand Slam, but there is still plenty of tennis left to be played. Novak Djokovic awaits the winner of the other men’s semifinal today between Milos Raonic and Andy Murray, while the women’s doubles duo of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis will try to extend their winning streak to 36 and capture the Australian Open title.

(2) Andy Murray (Great Britain) vs. (13) Milos Raonic (Canada)
This semifinal will be a matchup of two different styles of tennis, and two players at varying points in their career. Murray has the experience, having reached the Australian Open final four times in his career, while Raonic is seeking his first major title appearance. Murray can sometimes look like an emotional wreck out on court. He is a passionate player who is extremely hard on himself, and that shows at times, especially during this tournament when off-court distractions have clearly been on his mind. In contrast, Raonic is a calm and cool customer. For a young guy (just 25-years-old) he always looks poised out there, and has added new wrinkles to his game with net approaches and volleys which, in addition to his monster serve and big-hitting forehand, have made him such a tough player thus far in 2016. Murray is one of the best returners in the game, which makes this an especially intriguing match, considering Raonic’s power. There is a paradox that asks: “What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?" We may just find that out later tonight. Raonic and Murray are 3-3 against each other in the previous six matchups.

(1) Martina Hingis (Switzerland) & Sania Mirza (India) vs. (7) Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) & Andrea Hlacackova (Czech Republic)
The women’s doubles final will be played tonight as well, with the top-seeded Swiss/Indian duo of Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza looking for their 36th straight win and third straight Grand Slam title (having won last year’s Wimbledon and U.S. Open) together. They will take on the seventh-seeded Czech duo of Andrea Hlavackova & Lucie Hradecka, who have dropped the opening set in each of their last two matches before coming back to win. Hingis’ last singles title came back in 1999, but she has found a rebirth in her career on the doubles court. Mirza is also still alive in the Mixed Doubles draw, and along with partner Ivan Dodig, will play Elena Vesnina & Bruno Soares in the semifinals.

For Day 12’s full order of play, click here.