AP Photo/Ben Curtis
AP Photo/Ben Curtis

Raonic advances to third round of Wimbledon

For the third time in his career, Milos Raonic has earned a spot in the third round of Wimbledon.

Raonic won his second match of The Championships on Thursday, defeating Italy’s Andreas Seppi in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-2.

It’s the third straight year the 25-year-old has reached the third round at the All England Club. Raonic lost to Australia’s Nick Kyrgios last year after struggling with injury. He reached Wimbledon’s semifinals in 2014.

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Raonic-Seppi was supposed to take place on Wednesday but was postponed due to rain. The Canadian won his first match of Wimbledon on Monday, defeating Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4.

Raonic fired 12 of his 25 aces in the opening set on Thursday. In a back-and-forth set, Raonic edged Seppi 7-5 in the tiebreak to win 7-6.

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Milos Raonic of Canada returns to Andreas Seppi of Italy during their men's singles match on day four of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, June 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Milos Raonic of Canada returns to Andreas Seppi of Italy during their men’s singles match on day four of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, June 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

In the second, Raonic, up 4-3, came back from 0-30 down to take a 5-3 lead and go on to win 6-4. In the third set, Seppi grabbed a 2-1 lead only to lose the next five points, falling 6-2 to Raonic.

The Thornhill, Ontario native will face American Jack Sock – who is the doubles partner of Canadian Vasek Pospisil – in the third round.

On the women’s side, Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard defeated Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday. Bouchard will face Britain’s Johanna Konta – who is seeded 16th – in the second round on Thursday.