Australian Open: Jerzy Janowicz beats Gael Monfils, Milos Raonic brushes Donald Young aside
French showman Gael Monfils is out of the Australian Open after losing to Jerzy Janowicz in five sets in the second round on Thursday.
In the night's other match, Canada's Milos Raonic breezed into the next round with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win over United States' Donald Young.
Monfils' conquerer Janowicz, it is fair to say, has failed to live up to his billing since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2013.
The giant Pole with a howitzer first serve and one of the best forehands in the game has too often been let down by a fragile temperament when the going gets tough.
But there are signs that he is maturing after he kept his cool in the Melbourne heat to beat Monfils in five explosive sets.
There were still signs of frailty, like when he caved in during the second set, losing it 6-1 after outplaying 17th seed Monfils in the first 6-4.
Crucially, however, when he lost a high-quality third set on a tiebreak, rather than implode like he has been known to in the past, the 24-year-old hit back with some stunning tennis to win in five sets.
"I'm very happy, it means a lot for me," 44th ranked Janowicz, who gave Andy Murray a scare in the Wimbledon semi in 2013, told reporters.
"I've had a lot of problems in my career but I've always tried to practise hard in the bad moments and this was the first pre-season I could practise for one and a half months.
"Usually I have some problem with my body, and some personal problems, so today was a present for all that fight."
Janowicz, whose average first serve speed was 197kph but was out-aced 21-14 by Monfils, showed that his game was far more than just raw power.
He defended brilliantly at times and showed a sublime touch with many drop-shots that not even the elastic-limbed Frenchman Monfils could reach.
But it was his mental fortitude that really stood out as the former world number 14 set up a third round against Spain's Feliciano Lopez.
Raonic too good for Young
Canada's big-serving Raonic brushed aside Young in straight sets to reach the third round.
The eighth seed downed the 56th-ranked American 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in one hour and 42 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.
Raonic, who was semi-finalist at last year's Wimbledon, will now face Germany's Benjamin Becker, who snuffed out Lleyton Hewitt's 19th consecutive national open campaign in five sets.
It was Raonic's 12th straight win over American opposition, with his last loss coming against John Isner at Cincinnati in 2013.
Raonic served 17 aces, first served at 68 per cent and hit a total of 44 winners to Young's 20.
While Raonic got two service breaks, Young was unable to get a break point in the Canadian's 16 service games.
In the night's other match, Spanish 31st seed Fernando Verdasco eased into the next round with a straight-sets win over Japan's Go Soeda.
Verdasco eased through with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) victory over the world number 92.
AFP/Reuters