Milos Raonic cruises into Italian Open quarter-finals
Canadian scores a straight-sets victory over Tomas Berdych
Milos Raonic had no trouble handing Tomas Berdych a straight-sets defeat in the Round of 16 at the Italian Open in Rome Thursday morning.
The Thornhill, Ont. native, the fifth seed in the tournament, scored a 6-3, 6-2 victory to mark his fifth win in seven tries against the Czech.
Thursday's victory marks the third consecutive tournament in which Raonic has reached the quarter-finals since returning from his hamstring injury.
Germany's Alexander Zverev, who beat Italy's Fabio Fognini in straight sets, will face Raonic on Friday with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
Djokovic moves on, Wawrinka falls
Four-time champion Novak Djokovic beat Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 Thursday to ease into the quarterfinals of the Italian Open.
Djokovic seemed in full control when he went 3-1 up in the second set but allowed the Spaniard to fight back to 4-4 before going on to seal the match.
Djokovic next faces Juan Martin Del Potro after the Argentinian beat seventh-seeded Kei Nishikori 7-6(4), 6-3.
Third-seeded Stan Wawrinka went out of the tournament after losing 7-6 (1), 6-4 to American John Isner, who served up 19 aces in their match.
Rafael Nadal beat American Jack Sock 6-3, 6-4.
In the women's draw, Venus Williams beat Johanna Konta 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.