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Milos Raonic's hopes ruined by injury

The world number three struggled during his quarter-final with 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in Melbourne.

Milos Raonic waves to the crowd after his defeat by Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open quarter-finals in Melbourne on January 25, 2017

The world number three struggled during his quarter-final with 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in Melbourne as he went out in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4.

Raonic revealed after his loss that he had suffered his fourth adductor muscle injury in 12 months.

"It's my adductor again," he said. "I damaged it in Brisbane and it was healing before this tournament.

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"I got it to pretty good shape. Then today I guess I hurt another aspect of it."

Raonic said his chances of playing for Canada against Great Britain in Ottawa next week were uncertain.

"I don't really know. I have to see what this is. It's occurred now four times in the last 12 months. I'm very much up in the air," he told reporters.

The Canadian, yet to win his first major title, also suffered heartache in last year's Melbourne semi-finals when a groin injury ruined his chances against Andy Murray.

Raonic said that apart from the six set points he wasted in the second set, he didn't produce much against Nadal, despite beating him in the Brisbane quarter-finals only two weeks ago.

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"There were some opportunities in that second set. Other than that, there wasn't much for me to hold onto," Raonic said.

"I thought he did some things well. I thought he took the match to me. He did something a little bit different than he normally does. He played better than I did."

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