Alexander Zverev has crashed out of the Australian Open fourth round after losing in straight sets to Milos Raonic.
The German paid the price for a horrific display in the first two sets and despite an improved effort in the third, he was soundly beaten 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 by the 16th seed.
Zverev cut a frustrating figure on the court throughout and after losing the second set, smashed his racquet to smithereens.
He looked a different player in the third set, however, after a change of clothes and what was certainly evident afterwards, a change in attitude.
Hoping for a change of fortune, he got on the board and began to find his rhythm, especially with his serves as he notched up the aces.
Smashed: Zverev took his frustration out on his racquet after a forgettable display in the opening two sets. (AFP/Getty Images)But Raonic was in the form of his life, picking up love service games and hardly giving the 21-year-old any whiff of a comeback.
There was nothing between the two players in the third until Zverev was forced to save two match points after going 15-40 down at 4-5, but it was only delaying the inevitable.
With the crowd behind him, Zverev appeared to be improving with every game and eventually forced a tiebreak.
It looked as if he had a chance to forcing a fightback when he went 4-2 up, but Raonic valiantly fought back to seal the tiebreak and send the world number four crashing out after a torrid day on court.
