Milos Raonic

[Sempere]

AO SWOT #7 Milos Raonic

Milos Raonic: Two years ago the Canadian newcomer was a breakthrough star at the Australian Open, where as a qualifier he trotted into the fourth round, beating No. 10 Mikhail Youzhny along the way. Now the big server is a mainstay inside the top 20.

Strengths: For Milos, it’s all about the serve. The 21 year old plays the game much like his idol Pete Sampras did: by hitting as many aces as he physically can in each and every match. He belted 1,002 aces in 2012, winning 82% of his first serve points over the year. Such a serve allows Raonic to relax in the rest of his game, attacking the net behind a big forehand and making his opponents hold serve with the added pressure that if they don’t, they have a big task at hand in breaking his.

Weaknesses: The holes in Raonic’s game are the ones you may suspect from a 6-foot-5 acing machine: he’s a step slow, his return game needs improvement and he can oftentimes rely too heavily on his delivery to carry him through the match. So was true here last year when he was out-hustled by an inspired Lleyton Hewitt in a third-round upset. Raonic has to ratchet up more opportunities off of his return game, which he won just 15% of in 2012, converting break points only 39% of the time.

Opportunities: After solidifying himself as a true contender following his surprise run here in 2011, Raonic now has the chance to take his game to the next level and crack the top 10. While it’s clear that his return game needs cleaning, he should have a healthy shot at making a deep run if he used the off-season wisely. Many have pinned his name onto the wheel of next major contenders and he went 6-6 in 2012 against top 10 opponents, with wins over Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych and Janko Tipsarevic.

Threats: While Raonic has difficulty with the Big Four, he also can get in his own way at times. Much like Lindsay Davenport and her slumped shoulders, the Montenegro native can snap into a moody and defeated state on the court, creating a difficult task for himself to conjure up a win. Smaller, return-focused players like Hewitt can also prove a problem for Milos, who finds trouble with them when their return game is sizzling and they have a single break in hand for the advantage.

Craig Tiley, Australian Open tournament director:

“Raonic is an up and coming superstar. He’s got all the ingredients, and has proved he can mix it with the big guys. I think he’s a good player. I think that he’ll have a breakthrough one of these events, but I’m not too sure whether it will be this year at the Australian Open.”

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/new ... 39499.html

[Sempere]

Wywiad po zwycięstwie w 1. rundzie AO 2013

Q. What happened in the first set? Obviously not your finest hour.

MILOS RAONIC: I don't think not my finest two and a half hours.

No, I wasn't putting anything on the ball the whole match. I was playing a little bit tight. I sort of wasn't hitting freely. I was just letting him get in the points and get in the match.



Q. You did have stretches of playing reasonably well, I thought.

MILOS RAONIC: But never the right way. He gave me a lot of mistakes.

And it was always similar sort of the third set. I had a lot of break chances in the third set, but I was always missing the first or second ball. Then I just started overthinking a little bit too much.



Q. And the second serve on the set point in the fourth set, just another day at the office?

MILOS RAONIC: That's how I know how to serve. I hope that's how it always goes.



Q. Did that affect you at all, the fact that you hit a let on the previous serve?

MILOS RAONIC: No. I was thinking to go wide, but I've been doing this serve the whole time. I haven't really been double faulting. I double faulted maybe early in the game, but on the deuce side. I wasn't double faulting at all on that side.



Q. Do you blame any of the erratic play on the pretty windy conditions?

MILOS RAONIC: No, the wind wasn't that bad, as bad as it seems. It was actually pretty okay to play. I just wasn't swinging freely, and then just the wind seem a lot worse than it is.

My legs weren't moving, my arm wasn't moving, so the margin for error when I was swinging through the ball was much smaller.



Q. How do you explain not moving the arms?

MILOS RAONIC: First match. Just looking to get better and better. I think I played better against Giraldo last year in US Open, but I think it was same of the sort of the same situation. Then I came out better and better and better by the match.

So happy to get through and trying to make it better.



Q. So it's Rosol or Jamie Baker.

MILOS RAONIC: I played Jamie I think three times, three weeks in a row, in futures in Bangkok. Three weeks in a row I played him. I think semis all three weeks. I won twice and lost once.



Q. Rosol is he anything but a guy that had one phenomenal performance?

MILOS RAONIC: That's not my place to comment. We'll see about that in two days.



Q. And what did you think of him today? Steady at certain times.

MILOS RAONIC: He's steady. He doesn't move that great. He needs time. That's why I felt I let him into it quite often, because I'm normally pretty good when I get ahead in the point making the guy go from side to side.

Guys like Ferrer that defend really well I struggle with a bit more. I wasn't able to get him going, and that's the thing. I was letting him into the game. That's why I was a bit disappointed with, well, not just that part but many parts of the match.



Q. Trying to incorporate a few new things into your game this year. I guess you weren't too successful with that today.

MILOS RAONIC: No. The only thing I incorporated is winning the match and getting by and trying to be better.

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/new ... 97018.html

[Sempere]

Big-serving Raonic sees off Rosol



Booming Canadian Milos Raonic has stormed into the third round of Australian Open 2013 after taming Czech world No.75 Lukas Rosol 7-6(2) 6-2 6-3.

Twenty-two-year-old Raonic, the 13th seed, continued his promising form at Melbourne Park advancing past the second round of the Slam for the third straight year.

It was a battle of two 6ft 5in giants on Court 13, both players putting on a serving clinic much to the delight of the healthy crowd enduring the 38-degree Melbourne heat.

It was the Canadian, however, who was able to control his pace with a bit more class and accuracy, finishing the match with only one broken service game and 18 aces.

"I felt he (Rosol) was good when he guessed right, but as long as I kept him guessing I don’t feel like he could really hurt me too much on my serve," Raonic said after the match.

"As long as I knew as I was mixing it up, even if he got his racquet on it it’s not like he had hit it that many times in a row, he would be hesitating a little bit and wasn’t swinging as freely."

While the harsh Melbourne sun was in full force - as is usually the case during the Australian Grand Slam - the Canadian said he dealt with it well despite a few minor issues.

"(The heat) was a little bit tough, the thing is that you get a little bit dizzy," Raonic said.

"Other than that I don’t think it was really that hot because the sun was covered up most of the time... the air was just a little bit thick, so breathing and catching your breath was a little bit more difficult."

But the win was never set in stone for the world No.15, Rosol being no stranger to knocking off top seeds highlighted by his Wimbledon shocker against Rafael Nadal last year.

Players traded service games in the opening set, aided by their ability to either slam aces down the T at a blinding pace or take advantage of a poor return.

With scores locked at 6-6, Raonic secured an early mini-break in the tiebreak to go ahead 2-1 and from there he never looked back. Two aces, two Rosol unforced errors and a put-away volley in a matter of seconds helped Raonic steal the first set and subsequently all the momentum.

Rosol just didn’t look the same from there. The Canadian quickly deciphered his opponent’s punishing serve as he broke three times in the second set – a stark contrast from his zero in the opener – and cruised through 6-2.

The Czech’s 48 per cent first serve percentage in the third set brought him further headaches as Raonic kept pressing. It seemed as if the world No.15 could do no wrong when his first serve landed – with 85 per cent of first serve points won – and five more aces helped him ease to a 6-3 score in the third in only 30 minutes.

Raonic’s win sets up a third round showdown with 17th-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber on Saturday

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/new ... 04943.html

[Sempere]

Wywiad po zwycięstwie w 3. rundzie AO 2013

Spoiler:

Q. The service return to go back up to the mini break in the first set was a gutsy shot and obviously worked out.

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah. I had the exact same return the shot before. I went for it. The intention I had today that was a bit different is go for it. He doesn't like to play rhythm. Don't overthink, like too many unforced errors or whatnot. Go for it and just don't give him rhythm.

It was working well. I was hitting well from the start. I was moving quite well. There was some doubts at some points, but I just kept going for it.



Q. You have to consider that a big win for you.

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah, it's a good thing. A lot of good things sort of coming together. I'm just getting better and better. Struggling with a few things. But day in, day out, but at the end of the day it's better.



Q. How much of it today was mental and how much was physical/technical to pull through?

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah, today I think was a hundred percent mental. I had a tough night last night. I just sort of put that aside.

Today to come out, perform the way I did, I don't think anybody that's close to me would have expected that, and I'm proud about that.



Q. So you're sick?

MILOS RAONIC: I was yesterday. I was much better. I just struggled with a fever the last two nights. Sort of I managed to sweat it out last night. But that was waking up often, having to change and so forth.



Q. So did you feel weak coming on the court tonight?

MILOS RAONIC: No. I felt like my body was aching. I didn't really feel like I was struggling with energy. I just felt like every type of ache I had was magnified. I felt that I struggled a little bit at the beginning, especially 'cause there was that overcast on the court from the trees. I just struggled seeing and sort of registering quickly at the beginning.

But other than that, I felt like it wasn't an issue at all. I'm just happy how I put it aside and how I played.



Q. Where do you feel you sort of got him being negative and you got on top of him? When did you realize it really happened?

MILOS RAONIC: I think after he made that challenge on that ball that got me to deuce, I think I came back from 15 40 in that second game, my first return game in the second set. Just from the fact that him, you know, normally he will go back. He likes to have the time. He won't try to half volley that. You could feel like he was not getting a lot of rhythm. He wasn't seeing it right. I felt like after that, then he made that miss on the breakpoint, after I felt like that sort of threw him off.



Q. The net cord, you're unbeaten there, pretty comfortable there?

MILOS RAONIC: It's a good court for me. Record wise I don't think I can say after the first match I played my best tennis there, but I've played pretty well on that court.



Q. Were there times last night when you were getting up thinking, No way I'm going to get on court and beat this guy?

MILOS RAONIC: There were times where there were doubts in my mind of what I'd be able to come up with today. To be honest, there were times that there were doubts even up close to the match, even though I was feeling much better. You don't know how things are going to react. You don't know if you're going to be any slower or not.

I think the fact, it actually probably helped me, because it forced me to go 110% right away from the start because I didn't know what to expect. I just put it all out there from the first point. I think I started off that first game pretty well. I got myself a break chance. It just set the right tone after.

In a way, it was a good thing because I've been struggling a little bit with the intensity. I struggled for a set against Rosol, I struggled against Hajek, I struggled with all the matches leading up to this event. I think this just demanded it from me right away from the start.



Q. If you'd been hot, I mean, you've played late in the afternoon it was cooler, do you think that was an advantage?

MILOS RAONIC: I think today was pretty cool all day. Even when I hit around 12:00, it was a pretty comfortable feeling.

The issue, I don't think I was more worried about it might be too cold to the point where you get chills, because that's what I struggled with yesterday more so than struggling with heat. I struggled with sort of getting chills the whole time.

The worst part about it was I would have the chills and then I'd sort of feel like I'm tightening up my body. My back would sort of feel like it's getting more and more sore from that factor.



Q. Did you get a chance to watch any of what's going on out there now?

MILOS RAONIC: I watched the tiebreaker.



Q. Pretty impressive?

MILOS RAONIC: It's Roger.



Q. Bernard...

MILOS RAONIC: He's playing well. He's a good friend. I spoke with him before the match. I spoke with him last night. He's a good friend. Whatever people might see, he's a good kid.



Q. Your intensity level two nights from now is going to have to be super high to get in there against Federer.

MILOS RAONIC: I've had my three shots against him, and I look forward to my fourth.



Q. You're feeling good after getting through that?

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah.



Q. It could be an afternoon match. How do you feel about that?

MILOS RAONIC: I think that's better for me. It just quickens up the situations. The three times I played him have been either not great weather in Halle, which is pretty cool all the time, or both of the other times were night matches.

So a day opportunity I think would be good for me.



Q. What do you think you might bring to this match you weren't able to bring to the other ones?

MILOS RAONIC: Experience. I think I played well in the other ones. I think I got pretty damn close the one time in Madrid. I got pretty close in Halle. I just know how to deal with it. I think I have a higher tolerance within myself and a higher belief within myself stepping up against Roger.



Q. Can you describe the transformation? Obviously wasn't too good in Brisbane, Kooyong a bit goofy, but this transformation from when you got here to the way you are playing now?

MILOS RAONIC: Step by step, match by match, you try to get better. I exchanged emails with my fitness trainer or with my parents over the phone, I feel like many bad words. There was moments I was not feeling great.

It's just about sort of plugging away and turning it around. Fortunate to get by the first day. Made a big, I think, step forward the second day. Even though the second day I remember cooling down after the match, I really felt like I played really bad out there. Galo, Juan, everybody sort of around me was telling me, No, no, no, it wasn't that way. It really wasn't that way. So just even hearing that gave me another light for today.

So I felt like it was getting quite a bit better. Then going out today just sort of pushed myself and I could see myself that I'm getting better.



Q. Watching some of Bernie's match, winning the big points against Federer seems to be important.

MILOS RAONIC: He's made a career off winning big points.

No, yeah, it's what matters. And I think the progress Bernie's shown is great. I think he really I don't know. I didn't see too much of this third set. But I think he had break chances. Even the games he got broken, he had chances to hold.

But I think against Roger, one thing that has sort of worked well for me, I try as much as I can not to play on Roger's terms, to play on my own terms.



Q. Your game is so much different than the guys he's played so far. You have to think that's an advantage. He hasn't played a guy that serves as well as you. The pressure of returning and stuff.

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah, he's dealt with it enough times in his career. I don't think not playing anybody in this tournament that way is going to make too much of a difference for him.

The thing is, it's a different style. I have to go out there and do my job. Take care of my serve is number one. Really dictate or try to dictate as much as I can and go for it, not get in too much rhythm. Sort of similar to today. I think he deals much better with that. But not give him too much rhythm. Sort of sink my teeth into the match as much as I can. Not just go for it out there, give it my all, stay aggressive as much as I can, try to get ahead in as many points as I can.



Q. The Rod Laver experience from last year. Better a second time?

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah, I think it will. I don't think the atmosphere will change. I don't think there's too many people that don't like Roger. So I think it will be pretty much the same if it was playing Lleyton. Maybe not as many 'Aussie' cheers, but there will be quite a few 'Roger' cheers.

I've had a chance to practice on it quite a bit. I feel much better, much more prepared. This is my third time in a Grand Slam dealing with the center court. This is my first time getting an opportunity on center court. I look forward to that.



Q. I can't figure out whether you had a haircut since Kooyong.

MILOS RAONIC: I had a hair trim (smiling).

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/new ... 51962.html

[Sempere]

Interview: Milos Raonic - Australian Open 2013

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g4I8P5j ... TI&index=8[/youtube]

[Sempere]

Tower Interview: Milos Raonic - Australian Open 2013

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zptx1mvK ... TI&index=2[/youtube]

[Sempere]

Raonic Wants Perfect San Jose Record


Raonic has an 8-0 record in San Jose.

World No. 15 Milos Raonic is targeting a perfect record at the SAP Open as the tournament prepares to host its final event. The Canadian is the two-time reigning champion, having captured his first ATP World Tour title at the HP Pavilion in 2011.

“I don't think people can say really too often that they've gone sort of undefeated at one event,” said Raonic. “It would be something pretty awesome to be able to do that. It's a long way [away], but I feel ready and I just have to keep focusing on it and make the most of those opportunities.”

Raonic has thrived during the February indoor swing in the United States the past two years. He has followed up his San Jose triumphs by reaching the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships title match in Memphis.

“I think I've really pushed myself and I work really hard during the off season. That gives me a lot of confidence,” Raonic said. “Those tournaments come up right after I get some matches in, as well. So it's just sort of the timing of it and the work I put in, it starts clicking at those events. That's paid off for me the most.”

The 22 year old is preparing for Canada’s Davis Cup World Group first-round tie against Spain, which begins 1 February in Vancouver. Raonic, who advanced to the fourth round at the Australian Open (l. to Federer), is joined by Vasek Pospisil, Frank Dancevic and Daniel Nestor.

“I think they're still the favourites. They know how to win,” assessed Raonic. “They do a lot of things well. We have to focus on ourselves and take advantage of the situation we're in, the conditions. We're playing at home. We have control over quite a few of the conditions, [so we'll] try to make the most of that.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... ecord.aspx

[Sempere]

Milos: "It's been a lot of good memories here"

Spoiler:

Last season, rising star Milos Raonic finished a year end best No. 13 in the Emirates ATP rankings. He won two ATP World Tour titles in Chennai and of course in San Jose, reached finals in Memphis for the second straight year and Tokyo and advanced to the fourth round at the US Open. Raonic was the youngest player in the year end top 20.

The two-time reigning SAP Open champion will be the top seed in San Jose this year for the first time and he is trying to become the first player to win three titles in a row in the Bay Area since Hall of Famer Tony Trabert in 1953, ’54 and ’55.

Despite his busy schedule preparing for Canada’s first-round Davis Cup tie against Spain in Vancouver, he spoke with Greg Sharko, the director of Media Relations and Information for the ATP, along with other tennis organization officials in a conference call where he talked about his memories of winning the SAP Open two years in a row, his offseason training in Spain and the upcoming Davis Cup match.

Q. Milos, what are your memories of winning here two years in a row?
RAONIC: I think the most substantial one would be the first time around because as a player you don't know when you're going to win your first title, if it's going to happen and how so.
After making fourth round in Australia, building off it, it gave me a lot of confidence and also gave me a lot of confidence from other players, sort of backing up the fourth round at the Australian with that result, also with another great result in Memphis.

Q. Obviously you're probably aware this is the last SAP Open here. What are your thoughts on the tournament going away?
RAONIC: I think it's unfortunate. I think it's a very unique tournament. It's definitely different from the setup of most other events. It's a setup I like. It's an indoor event, which we have a lot of on the tour, but to play in the kind of stadium they set it up in, for me it's been a lot of good memories there, a lot of things. It's unfortunate for myself that that tournament is not going to be continuing.

Q. What areas in your game, in terms of getting to that next level, are you working on and how close do you think you are to making that breakthrough?
RAONIC: I think I'm getting quite better. I'm getting better in movement, more experience, how to deal with situations, my backhand, many things. My return game is getting better. All these kind of things I've worked on and I have a lot more belief and confidence in. It's just really about incorporating them better into matches. It's tough at the beginning of the year because you go from a training mode where you're sort of exerting yourself physically to sort of having to deal with the mental stresses and pressures, mental fatigue through matches.

Just sort of matching that intensity in matches would definitely make a big difference. I think also with other guys, I think I'm getting closer. I can't really put a time limit on it. The sooner the better. I just have to keep working away. When that opportunity comes up, I have to try to make the most of it.

Q. How hard is it when you have the top four guys who are so consistent and so good for younger players like you?
RAONIC: No, I think not only their consistency, but the fact that since they're No. 1, you have the No. 2 guy right on you, you have the No. 3 guy on you, you have the No. 4 guy, Rafa, who is currently not playing, all behind you, they're forcing each other to keep improving. They're increasing the level of tennis to be played. That's why I think it's taking longer for players to break through.

Q. With Federer now 31 and Rafa dealing with some injury, do you feel like there's maybe a window for guys like yourself, Dimitrov, Dolgopolov, to start sneaking through into that top group?
RAONIC: I don't really look at it that way. I think Federer is playing as well as he could be really. He's playing maybe not the best he's ever played in his career, but he's not far off. He's definitely up there.

I think people are looking at the fact that Novak and Murray have picked it up. But I think Federer is still up there. I think Rafa will be as soon as he gets healed up. I think he's too good of a player not to get back up there. I think all these things will come. It's just about as a player not hoping for them to go away, but working and trying to become a part of that group, become associated with those top four.

Q. Is it just a matter of patience for you? You have to stand back and say, I'm 22, I have time, my game is developing?
RAONIC: Yeah. The goal every day is to keep getting better, improve something every day. It's about sort of working away and hoping that time comes sooner than later, trying to make the most of it when it does. If you focus on those things too much, I think a lot of those things are out of my control. I try to focus on the things that I can control, that I have say in. I can't really control if they're getting better or how they are playing.

Q. I know a lot has been made of your off season training in Spain. When did that start and how did it come about?
RAONIC: It started in the winter season of 2010, the off season then. It started because I was looking for a coach, did a trial period with Galo Blanco. I sort of got hurt at the end of the 2010 season. I had 10 days before the off season before I started taking time to rest, then go into the off season, to go to Spain, see the facilities, the setup, see the people I would work with, people that would take care of me, doctors, physios. I just really liked the setup. It encouraged me to want to come back there and keep working there.

Q. In terms of the effect it had on your work ethic, what was your work ethic like before?
RAONIC: I think my work ethic was always there. I think it was more just a matter of the kind of work you do, the kind of drills, the kinds of things you focus on. I think also, since you have so many high ranked players there all the time, you don't need to give me insight on what I needed to. Just through practice sets and practices, so forth, it also gave me a lot of I wouldn't say match experience, but an idea of what kind of situations you will deal with in matches with those guys, the top 10, top 20, top 30. It gave me insight into those situations.

Q. What would it mean to win three titles in a row here?
RAONIC: It would be something special. I don't think people can say really too often that they've gone sort of undefeated at one event. It would be something pretty awesome to be able to do that. It's a long ways to that, but I feel ready and I just have to keep focusing on it and make the most of those opportunities.

Q. Could you talk a little bit about Davis Cup. Spain has always been known for their depth. Do you think a team without Rafa, Ferrer, and Verdasco are beatable?
RAONIC: I think so. I think even with their best players there's opportunities against them. Obviously the chances go down. I think they're still the favorites. They know how to win. They do a lot of things well. We have to focus on ourselves and take advantage of the situation we're in, the conditions. We're playing at home, the fact that we have control over quite a few of the conditions, try to make the most of that.

Q. If you could talk for a second about what Nole has been able to do, winning in Australia, six titles. How special has his performance over the last couple years been?
RAONIC: Yeah, I think the one thing that is the most amazing out of it all is the consistency behind it. But also when you see him, he's always relaxed, he's always calm in the locker room. You never see him too stressed. He just goes about his business, feels very comfortable in the situation he's in.

I think obviously there's a big focus on Federer last summer because of him getting back to No. 1 and so forth, but I think even at that time Novak was still the best player throughout that year. It was just hard for him to defend everything he had to defend from the first part he picked up in 2011.
I think the last probably two years and in one slam he's been the best player.

Q. What did you learn about yourself and your game last year? A couple wins over Andy Murray, you beat Berdych in Cincinnati.
RAONIC: It gave me an insight on the things I need to do, the level I need to produce with these guys, but also the way I need to play, what my identity is on the court, how to deal with those situations as best as possible.It's something you sort of look back to and sort of put structure behind that, replicate those situations. You try to sort of push forward with that game style that got you through those matches.

Q. What would you owe your success early in the season to, the wins in San Jose, reaching the finals in Memphis twice? What is it about indoors or the early part of the year that works?
RAONIC: I think it's both the conditions are good for me. But I think I've really pushed myself and I work really hard during the off season. That gives me a lot of confidence. Those tournaments come up right after I get some matches in, as well. So it's just sort of the timing of it and the work I put in, it starts clicking at those events. That's paid off for me the most.

http://www.sapopentennis.com/news/News.asp?story_id=499

[Sempere]

Raonic Wants to be on Top



Milos Raonic would like to beat them and join them.

The world’s 13th-ranked tennis player has spent the past couple of years gradually scaling the sport’s pecking order. He won two tournaments last year, including his second in a row at the SAP Open, and twice beat Andy Murray, currently the world’s No. 3 player.

But Raonic knows if he wants to reach the ultimate heights of tennis anytime soon he will have to consistently compete with the “Big Four” – Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Murray and Rafael Nadal.

“I think all these things will come,” said Raonic, who will begin his quest of three-peating at the SAP Open next week, when the tournament returns to HP Pavilion in San Jose Feb. 11-17. “It’s just about as a player not hoping for them to go away, but working and trying to become a part of that group – become associated with those top four.”

Raonic, 22, won his first career singles title at the SAP Open in 2011. He came back to San Jose last year as the No. 32 player in the world and successfully defended his title. Since his last Bay Area appearance, he has played in three more finals, notched the two triumphs over Murray and advanced to the fourth round of the U.S. Open.

He was the youngest player to finish 2012 ranked in the top-20, and now has his sights set on further ascending the tennis hierarchy.
“I think I’m getting quite better,” Raonic said. “I’m getting better in movement, more experience, how to deal with situations, my backhand, many things. My return game is getting better. All these kinds of things I’ve worked on and I have a lot more belief and confidence in.

“I think also along with other guys, I think I’m getting closer. I can’t really put a time limit on it. The sooner, the better. I have to just keep working away.
When that opportunity comes up, I have to try to make the most of it.”

There’s no better place than the SAP Open for Raonic to try to continue making that dent into the top of men’s tennis. The Canadian has owned this event in recent years, especially with his booming serve. He’s lost just two of 85 service games the past two years. In last year’s win over Denis Istomin in the final, he dropped just four points on his serve the entire match.

No tennis player has won three straight tournaments at a Bay Area event since Tony Trabert in 1953-55. Raonic, who has parlayed his success in San Jose to become a crowd favorite inside HP Pavilion, would love to capture the singles crown one more time before the tournament moves out of the Bay Area.

“It would be something special,” Raonic said. “I don’t think people can say really too often that they’ve gone sort of undefeated at one event. It would be something pretty awesome to be able to do that. It’s a long ways to that, but I feel ready and I just have to keep focusing on it and make the most of other opportunities.”

Raonic negotiated this stretch of the calendar nicely last season. After winning in San Jose, he reached the finals in Memphis the following week. He continued his improvement into the summer, something he hopes to duplicate in 2013.

“The goal every day is to keep getting better, improve something every day” Raonic said. “It’s about sort of working away and hoping that time comes sooner than later, trying to make the most of it when it does.”

http://www.sapopentennis.com/news/News.asp?story_id=505

[Sempere]

2013 SAP Open - 1-on-1 with Milos Raonic

[Sempere]

Raonic Continues Quest for Three

Milos Raonic won his match at the SAP Open on Thursday night. In a related matter, the sun set in the West.

Raonic, the two-time defending champion and No. 1 seed this year, improved to 9-0 all-time here in San Jose with a tidy 6-2, 7-5 second-round victory over American Michael Russell in a match that took just over an hour to complete.

Raonic will play sixth-seeded Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in Friday’s quarterfinals. Istomin had already played two matches in San Jose this week before Raonic took the court Thursday evening, because the Canadian had a first-round bye.

Raonic defeated Istomin 7-6(3), 6-2 in last year’s championship match.

“I’m definitely comfortable here,” Raonic said. “I made a big emphasis on starting aggressive today, especially being the first match of the tournament and his second match of the tournament. I was able to play well.”

Raonic has been the king of this event the past two years, winning over Bay Area fans with a powerful game and a likeable personality. His 2011 title was the first of his career, and his run to the 2012 crown was especially dominant behind his booming serve.

Including Thursday’s match, Raonic has lost just two of 95 service games all-time at the SAP Open. In last year’s win over Istomin, he dropped just four points on his serve the entire match.

Raonic is a favorite to win again this year. If he does, he will become the first player to win three straight championships in a Bay Area event since Tony Trabert in 1953-55.

“It would be something that is nice, but I don’t think it is pressure,” Raonic said. “It’s more just wishful thinking at the moment to make that happen.”

It didn’t take Raonic long to get an edge against Russell, breaking him in the third game of the match. He broke him again at 4-2 in the first set and then closed it out easily.

The players each held serve until Raonic broke Russell at 5-5, then served out the match.

“I think I played pretty well,” Raonic said. “I got into a little bit of a slump just trying to go for a bit too much on second serve returns. When I figured
that out in the last game, it was much better.”

Raonic just turned 22 in November, and has been gradually adding to his game. That allowed him to notch two wins over Great Britain star Andy Murray last year, advance to the fourth round of the U.S. Open and rise to No. 13 in the world rankings.

Raonic said his improved skill-set has allowed him to take more chances instead of always relying on his big serve.

“I have experience how to deal with situations more,” Raonic said. “I feel like I back up my serve better and I’m holding quite handily most of the time. That gives me more freedom to go for shots in my return game.”

In other action Thursday night, the No. 1 doubles team of Mike and Bob Bryan was knocked out by the Australian tandem of Lleyton Hewitt and Marinko Matosevic, 6-4, 6-7(4), 10-7. Xavier Malisse and Frank Moser beat Matthew Ebden and Michael Russell, 6-3, 6-3.

http://www.sapopentennis.com/news/News.asp?story_id=529

[Sempere]

Raonic - A Rising Star

Milos Raonic is becoming a big star in Canada. The two-time defending SAP Open champion has risen to No. 13 in the world and earlier this month led his country to an upset win over Spain in the first round of the Davis Cup.

If Canada can beat Italy in the quarterfinals and the United States beats Serbia, the winners would meet in the semifinals.
“Maybe we can play in San Jose,” Raonic said.

Raonic would just as soon play every match in San Jose. Friday night, he improved to 10-0 all-time at the SAP Open with a 7-6(0), 6-3 win over Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin. Raonic has never dropped a set at this tournament. His quest for a third title in a row continues Saturday afternoon against American Sam Querrey in the semifinals.

Truth be told, Raonic isn’t keen on playing every match in San Jose.

“The real estate is expensive to move here,” he said. “I’m a diva. I need more than a little condo.”

Istomin, who lost to Raonic in the 2012 title match, played the champion evenly for most of the first set. But he struggled to hold serve before finally keeping pace and taking a 6-5 lead. But those struggles foreshadowed what was about to come.

Raonic won 11 of the next 12 points to close out the set, and then broke Istomin’s first service game of the second set to lead 3-0.

“That 5-all game, I started to hit my stride,” Raonic said. “That just led into the tiebreak. I didn’t start as aggressively as I wanted to today. I wasn’t really winning any points from the baseline.”

Raonic’s 2011 SAP Open title was the first championship of his career. He said he doesn’t necessarily feel the pressure of having the target on his back as the two-time defending champion, and the possible of winning a third in a row. But he experiences apprehension before each individual match.

“I haven’t really thought that far ahead,” Raonic said. “It would be great to get to that point, to have that opportunity. But no matter how established I am or how much people think I’m favored to win a lot of my matches, I still get nervous. I think having those nerves when I am starting out matches keeps me sharp.”

Raonic said he wasn’t as sharp to begin Friday’s match, as a handful of unforced errors demonstrated. Istomin had a rare break point leading 2-1 in the first set but Raonic ended up holding. Raonic has won 104 of 106 service games lifetime at the SAP Open.

“It would be a great way to finish here, especially it being my first title as well,” Raonic said. “To have those feelings you have when it’s your first title and span that over three years -- it’s something special, something you don’t have an opportunity to do too much.”

Querrey advanced to the semis with a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win over Columbia’s Alejandro Falla. It marks the first time since 2002 that the top four seeds have advanced to the semifinals at the SAP Open.

http://www.sapopentennis.com/news/News.asp?story_id=536

[Sempere]

ATP San Jose: Historyczny trzeci z rzędu triumf Milosa Raonicia



Milos Raonić zapisał się w historii turnieju ATP World Tour 250 rozgrywanego w San José. Kanadyjczyk pokonał w finale 6:4, 6:3 Tommy'ego Haasa i po raz trzeci z rzędu zwyciężył w całej imprezie.

Milos Raonić w wielkim stylu został triumfatorem rozgrywanego w San José turnieju SAP Open. Rozstawiony z numerem pierwszym Kanadyjczyk w całych zawodach zmuszony był bronić tylko jednego break pointa, a wszystkie cztery spotkania pewnie zakończył w dwóch partiach. 22-letni tenisista w kalifornijskim turnieju pozostał niepokonany: wygrał łącznie 12 gier, nie tracąc w nich ani jednego seta!

W niedzielnym meczu Raonić potrzebował zaledwie pięciu kwadransów, aby rozprawić się z Tommy'm Haasem. Doświadczony tenisista w swoim 25. finale zawodów głównego cyklu mógł zostać pierwszym Niemcem w 125-letniej historii imprezy, który sięgnie po mistrzowski tytuł. Ostatecznie, trofeum powędrowało w ręce Kanadyjczyka, który tym samym jako jedyny gracz w Erze Otwartej trzy razy z rzędu zwyciężył w San José.

Spotkanie Raonicia z Haasem zakończyło się zwycięstwem 6:4, 6:3 turniejowej "jedynki". Pochodzący z Podgoricy zawodnik znów imponował swoim serwisem: posłał na drugą stronę kortu 19 asów, a po trafionym pierwszym podaniu wygrał aż 90 proc. wszystkich punktów. Niemiec zanotował tylko jednego asa i w całym meczu trzykrotnie nie utrzymał własnego serwisu.

- Uważam, że rzeczą na której naprawdę się skupiłem, był jego drugi serwis. Zaraz na początku meczu rzadko nie trafiał pierwszym podaniem, ale byłem w stanie wywrzeć sporą presję na jego drugim serwisie, a w dalszej części spotkania także na jego pierwszym. Byłem agresywny i dobrze to widziałem. Nie wiem czy byłbym w stanie returnować jeszcze lepiej - powiedział po finale szczęśliwy zwycięzca.

Raonić do ataku ruszył już w pierwszym gemie spotkania, ale wówczas Haas zdołał jeszcze obronić własne podanie. W trzecim gemie reprezentant naszych zachodnich sąsiadów był jednak bezradny, Kanadyjczyk znakomicie returnował, a jego świetne czucie kortu dawało mu również znaczną przewagę w wymianach. 22-latek wywalczonej przewagi nie zmarnował, pewnie kończąc seta w 10. gemie przy trzeciej okazji.

Początek drugiej odsłony to zmasowany atak Raonicia na serwis rywala, który w gemie otwarcia zdołał jeszcze utrzymać podanie. Kiedy wydawało się, że Haas wreszcie jest w stanie nawiązać walkę, przyszedł moment słabości, bezwzględnie wykorzystany przez Kanadyjczyka. Raonić przełamał podanie Niemca na 4:3 i od tego momentu rządził niepodzielnie na korcie. Rozbity Haas nie znalazł recepty na potężny return przeciwnika, w dziewiątym gemie ponownie dał sobie odebrać serwis, co było równoznaczne z zakończeniem całego pojedynku.

Za trzeci triumf w San José i zarazem siódmy w swojej karierze Raonić otrzymał czek o wartości 98 700 dolarów oraz obronił 250 punktów do rankingu ATP. Mimo zwycięstwa w całej imprezie, Kanadyjczyk osunie się w światowej klasyfikacji z 13. na 14. lokatę, bowiem wyprzedzi go Francuz Gilles Simon, półfinalista równolegle rozgrywanego turnieju w Rotterdamie. 150 punktów oraz czek na sumę 52 000 dolarów zainkasował z kolei Haas, który dzięki temu w poniedziałek awansuje na 18. miejsce w rankingu ATP.

http://www.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/34008 ... a-raonicia

[Saboteur]

#4) San Jose 2013



R1 wolny los
R2 Michael Russell (USA) 6-2 7-5
QF [6] Denis Istomin (UZB) 7-6(0) 6-3
SF [3] Sam Querrey (USA) 6-4 6-2
W [4] Tommy Haas (GER) 6-4 6-3

[MG FCB]

Gratulacje dla Raona teraz czas na większe turnieje. Nie jestem zbytnim fanem jego gry, ale świeża krew jest potrzebna.

[przemusiowa]

World No. 13 Milos Raonic completed an remarkable run on Sunday in San Jose, defeating No. 4 seed Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-3 to win his third consecutive title at the final staging of the SAP Open. Raonic finishes with a 12-0 event record, winning all 24 sets he played during his three-year reign.

“It’s pretty awesome. It’s pretty special,” said Raonic. “It’s more than just the trophies that I have. It’s the little things that come with it. There was always the maple syrup story. The San Jose Sharks jersey. It all means a lot. With this event, that has had so many great champions, it’s pretty special. To sort of one-up it and three-peat is pretty awesome.”

Raonic improved to a 4-3 record in ATP World Tour finals and successfully defended 250 Emirates ATP Rankings points. The Canadian became the first player in the Open Era to win three Bay Area titles in a row and first since Tony Trabert achieved the feat from 1953-55. He did not drop serve during his triumph this week, holding in all 39 games.

The top-seeded Raonic never found himself in trouble on serve against Haas. He fired 19 aces, won 29 of his 32 first serve points and did not face a break point. Raonic closed out the victory by breaking Haas for the third time in the final game to win the pair’s first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting in 75 minutes.

“I think the thing I’ve really focused on is the second serve return,” Raonic said. “I think in the beginning he wasn’t missing many first serves but I was able to put a lot of pressure on his second serve, and then put more pressure on his first serve later in the match. I was able to stay aggressive. I was seeing it well. I don’t think I could have returned much better.”

Haas was contesting his first final in San Jose on his eighth tournament appearance. The 34 year old was aiming to become the first German to lift the trophy. He dropped to 13-12 in tour-level finals.

“There was nothing I could have done. I didn’t play a bad match. I just came up against a guy who played phenomenal tennis today,” said Haas. “He didn’t give me any looks on his serve. All the credit to him for that. He served extremely well. He has a lot of confidence. He took risks when he had to and got rewarded for it. That’s his game and that’s what makes him so tough.”

The SAP Open bids farewell after celebrating a 125-year run. The event was first hosted in 1889.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... Title.aspx

[Sempere]

ATP World Tour Uncovered 20.02.2013 - Milos Raonic

[Sempere]

Milos Raonic - ATP Player Profile Delivered by FedEx

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Medi ... Fedex.aspx

[Sempere]

Raonic Reflects On Miami Withdrawal

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZQwsQtT ... XA&index=5[/youtube]

[Sempere]

Milos Raonic: Canadian Trailblazer


Raonic says improvements to his return game and
movement will help him break into the Top 10.

Before Milos Raonic burst onto the scene in 2011, Canada never had a player ranked inside the Top 40 of the Emirates ATP Rankings. So it’s understandable when Raonic breaks new ground, whether it comes through a new rankings milestone or a significant match win, both local and international media follow with interest.

As part of ATP’s ‘Emirates Stars Of Tomorrow’ series, the current World No. 16 discusses his role as an ambassador for Canadian tennis, what he needs to improve to crack the Top 10 and more…

Every time you attain a new Emirates ATP Rankings milestone, Canada reaches one. How do you approach the responsibility of being a pioneer of Canadian tennis?
I find the best way to approach it is for me focus on myself. I’m focused every day on what I need to do to win and put everything else aside. It’s great to have the support, but I play tennis for myself. I’m very proud to represent tennis in my country and Canadians worldwide as best as I can.

You finished 2012 as the youngest player inside the Top 20. In light of that, how much do you think age and experience play a role in the Emirates ATP Rankings?
I think they do. I’m still learning a lot every match, win or lose. Experience is a big thing for me, especially trying to win in tough situations. I’m trying to make the transition to the top as smooth as possible by learning as much as I can every match. I’m not taking anything for granted.

How close do you feel to the Top 10, having been ranked as high as No. 13? What improvements can you make to move up to this elite group of players?
I’m keen on getting there and working hard to get there. I need to improve in many aspects. My return game and my movement are big things I need to improve. I also need to keep learning through experiences and I think that will help me get up there with the Top 10 guys. I’d like to squeeze into the Top 8 to make the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Looking back, can you identify a point in time when you realised you had the game and mental strength to compete with the best players in the world?
There are two times. First was when I qualified and made the fourth round of Australian Open in 2011. I had two good wins over Mikhail Youzhny and Michael Llodra. But before that, I qualified at Montreal in 2009 and had match points against Fernando Gonzalez there. That gave me a lot of belief in myself and the work I was doing. It also gave me the respect I wanted.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... aonic.aspx