Melbourne, Jan 26 (IANS): Milos Raonic became the first Canadian man in the Open Era to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals as he edged Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-3 here Monday.

The Toronto native is the first Canadian to reach the last eight in Melbourne since Michael Belkin in 1968.

He is through to his third Grand Slam quarter-final, having made his breakthrough at Roland Garros last year and going on to reach his first semi-final a month later at Wimbledon.

Raonic is also the second Canadian man in history to reach three major quarter-finals, following in the footsteps of Robert Powell at Wimbledon in 1908, 1910 and 1912.

"It's great to be doing what I'm doing and that it is making a difference," said Raonic.

"It is, I guess, part of some history, if you look really deep. But at the end of the day, at the same time, I'm always pushing myself for what I want to achieve."

The 24-year-old Raonic will face either World No.1 and four-time champion Novak Djokovic or Gilles Muller for a place in the semi-finals.