TORONTO | For the first time since returning to competition two months ago, Canadian veteran Milos Raonic has won back-to-back games in a tournament. Here he is at the age of 32 in the round of 16 of the National Bank Open in Toronto after missing the circuit for almost two years!
And that 6-4, 6-3 win over Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel, ranked 115th in the world, under sunny midfield on Wednesday typified the powerful server’s prime.
Photo Getty Images via AFP
Fifteen aces, timed breaks – including one at 5-4 in the first set – short points, a few net runs. Certainly nothing to upset the audience, which is also quite scattered around the large stadium, despite the fact that a pioneer of Canadian tennis is present on the court, who is undoubtedly in his last few kilometers on the circuit.
But an effective game nonetheless, enough to earn the Canadian, currently ranked No. 545 in the world, one more game ahead of his parents and friends who had wished so badly to get at least one last round in Toronto despite his weakness He suffered body pains that prevented him from hitting a single ball for 14 months.
Not far from his best
Moreover, the impression of déjà vu that one could have from the height of the grandstands was not wrong.
Raonic confirmed this in a press conference and spoke of a “pretty clean game” on his part: the former member of the top 3 did not feel “that far” from his level a few years ago.
Which he didn’t expect, having not won two games in a row since the 2021 Miami Masters.
He avoids the sixth favourite
The Canadian, who has been surprising since Monday when he defeated ninth-seeded Frances Tiafoe, will therefore play his first round of 16 in Canada since 2016.
That year he reached the quarterfinals in front of the Toronto crowd. And while Raonic refused to put himself too far into the tournament after his triumph at the American’s expense, this time he felt he could play “even better” on Thursday.
In addition, “Missile Milos” was entitled to a slight reinforcement for this third confrontation. The Ontario native does not meet Andrey Rublev, who was sixth seeded in the Queen City, but American Mackenzie McDonald, the 65th hitter in the world, who defeated the Russian 6-4, 6-3.
“[Avec mon équipe]”We have a routine,” he explained. […] I will give my body a chance to fully recover [de ce match]to give me the best chance to fight and leave it all on the ground.
“That’s how I’ll have my chances.”
Obviously, Raonic wasn’t back in top form until Wednesday. He begins to pursue other, even greater goals.