Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Nadal has given Raonic everything in that game. He went three times to the backhand to win one point, fired one pass down the line, then one cross-court  winner and finally one chipped lob that Raonic couldn't deal with.

David Law
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

The harder you hit the ball at Nadal, the harder it comes back.

He's on it today.

Nadal, for the first time, stands a couple of feet further back and it's a smart move.

It opens up a down-the-line winner, then forces Raonic to pop into the net and then allows the Spaniard to land a crosscourt winner.

Two break points - Raonic can only stun an overhead long.

We are cooking now.

Image source, Getty Images

Nadal has Raonic on the end of a yo-yo as he sends the Canadian back and forth along the baseline.

We've found a rhythm as Rafa holds to love.

With so many players in their 30s in the semi-finals, we want to know what you were up to in 1998?  

Mobeen Ahmad Tahir: I didn't know what tennis was. Was too busy figuring out how and why Brazil lost to France.

Prabhanjan Badami: Those were the days when Warne drove shivers down many a English spine;) In tennis, "Pistol" Pete was invincible!

David Melton: Ruth my first Child arrived in 1998, alas she has no interest in tennis, but she does play Hockey for her university.

The umpire has a brief chat with Nadal, telling him he's taking too long between points.

Raonic blocks it all out, sat in his chair with his eyes closed, almost meditating.

Raonic's runaround forehand is causing bother for Nadal who, not for the first time today, watches it razzle past him into the left flank of the court.

Unforced error from the Canadian though and it's a chink of light for Nadal at 30-30.

Break point up as Rafa plonks one on the toes of Raonic and he lifts the pick-up wide, and the Spaniard comes agonisingly close to breaking as a crosscourt forehand, which looks a sure fire winner, hits the tape.

It's a left off for Milos and he doesn't look back, putting away a backhand volley to hold.

Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Neither man looks particularly relaxed. It looks like they are still sizing each other up, but there's been a lot of intensity already.

Image source, AFP

An absolute treat for the sight-buds as the pair combine for a glorious rally. Raonic steps in and gets a block to a passing effort, but Nadal follows up and nails the second attempt.

Rafa's turn to step off the baseline and put away a sit-up ball, but Milos finds a lovely crosscourt forehand winner for deuce.

A skewed backhand from the Canadian and a serve into the body see Rafa through.

Raonic is not just an air pistol. He twice jumps forward to cut off Nadal shots and applies deft volleys.

Rafa is pinned back by the power.

Milos will feel a whole sight better for that love hold.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Having backed Raonic I have to say he's not settled yet.

Maybe he's like of those big diesel engines that takes a while to reach maximum temperature.

He has broad hips, wider than any part of his body, which seems to go against the norm for tennis players.

With so many players in their 30s in the semi-finals, we want to know what you were up to in 1998?

Akshay: I played Dave on windows 95 in 1998. I was 4 back then 😎😂😁

Vijay: I was running around in my shorts as a kid .. not knowing what to do in life :D

Raonic, 0-30 down, manages to carve out an opening down the line but rockets the ball straight into the tape.

Rafa's first service game is infinitely less stressful than the Canadian's, as he holds to love.

David Law
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

I've narrowly picked Nadal to win this. He lost to Raonic in Brisbane but was the better player for a set and a half, but he had a wobble, the forehand did go off, and Raonic is a predator of a player and turned the match around.

But I guess Nadal hasn't faced anyone like Raonic, who is so relentless, so far in this tournament.

Image source, AFP

Raonic has brought his bazooka to a fist fight - a 240km/h serve sets the tone.

And here's another, but Nadal has brought his bazooka deflector, just stepping aside to unleash a forehand return winner.

It's a slog of an opening game - six minutes long - which the Canadian finally claims after a trio of deuces.

Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

It's a tough tournament to predict but I think this will be Raonic's match. He beat Nadal quite recently, seems to be constantly improving, and his net play is evolving along with his power from the back of the court.

Rafa's forehand has been decent but is not the howitzer it was in his prime and if he doesn't murder the ball on that side he'll get turned over quite quickly.

Raonic won the toss and opted to serve. Here we go.

Image source, .

These two met just a few weeks ago at the Brisbane International, with Raonic coming out on top 4-6 6-3 6-4.

It was only the Canadian's second win over the 14-time Grand Slam champion.

David Law
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

Milos Raonic was interrogating me about Leicester City. He called them Lechester.

He was warming up by playing a bit of football. He has got all sorts of funky methods to prepare himself, he's got the mouthpiece as well, and will leave now stone unturned to be successful.

Image source, Rex Features

Nadal's opponent today is quite a few people's tip to go all the way this year.

Milos Raonic has yet to win a Grand Slam - the closest he came was losing to Andy Murray in last year's Wimbledon final.

But the 26-year-old is looking to reach his fourth Grand Slam semi-final - his second in Melbourne - and build on his highest ranking of third in the world.

The Ontario-raised right-hander has dropped just two sets on his way to this meeting with Nadal, including his four-set win over Roberto Bautista Agut while contending with flu.