Milos Raonic wasn't at his best in Dominic Thiem win, which is a warning sign, says Leif Shiras
Sky Sports' analyst warns potential semi-final opponent Murray of his threat
Thursday 17 November 2016 23:20, UK
Leif Shiras claims Milos Raonic is a real dangerman at the ATP World Tour Finals after not playing at his best, but still proving too strong for Dominic Thiem on Thursday night.
Raonic defeated the young Austrian to join Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the season-ending finale in London.
The duo faced a shoot-out for second place in the group behind the Serb, and the fourth seed edged a tight first set and then broke at the start of the second to win 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 and become the first Canadian to reach the semi-finals.
"I don't think he was at his best and I think that's a bit of a warning sign for everyone else that he can still get better," said Sky Sports' tennis analyst Shiras.
"He was certainly good enough when it counted and that was the growing sign of a growing elite player that you play your best when the pressure is on and you can deliver.
"I think what you see in him is not only growing talents, but more of an all-court game, comfortable in all parts and of course his growing belief. He's four in the world and although he hadn't won a Masters event or a Grand Slam, these are the steps of progression that he's sort of leading up to.
"Being in the semi-finals here he's given himself a great chance to maybe pull one off here, it's very much within his reach and he has the weapons to do it."
There could be a rematch of the Wimbledon final and Australian Open semi-final between Raonic and Britain's world No 1 Andy Murray in the last four, depending on how the other group plays out on Friday and Shiras says "if it is Andy Murray, then he had better watch out".
"On an indoor hardcourt, I think the conditions suit Raonic's game really well so Andy Murray will have to play well," said the former professional.
"I think Raonic has a shot. I'm not sure what the percentage would be with Andy and Novak in there - two of the games greats. His odds of winning the title are not as great as theirs but you can never discount a guy like Milos."
Check our game-by-game coverage from all group matches at the ATP World Tour Finals in London - including Andy Murray v Stan Wawrinka on Friday - on skysports.com/tennis, our app for mobile devices and iPad and our Twitter account @skysportstennis.
