Canada's Milos Raonic celebrates his win in the final match against Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic at the ATP Chennai Open.The Associated Press
Time doesn't weigh on the broad shoulders of Canadian tennis phenom Milos Raonic, but he's learned not to burn himself out on the court.
He'll take on both the Olympics in London and the Rogers Cup in Toronto in back-to-back weeks this summer and is happy to tackle both. But he won't overdo the stress he puts on his body.
"Last year's off-season I did well but this year's off-season I did a lot better," said Raonic, speaking of a winter program that improved his agility, speed and mental games.
"Not only will the mental game help me get through the big points, but I've worked on my technical and my tennis ability as well. That definitely took pressure off the mental side as well."
It will be a busy season with Davis Cup play, the Olympics and ATP World Tour stops. He's 21 and a brawny 6 foot 6. He's gifted with one of the most powerful serves in the game. "But I don't think I'll go more than three weeks at a time. … The focus is going to be playing my best tennis when it comes to big tournaments. I see the effect that taking time off has on my tennis."
Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., has overcome a hip injury. A winter of training his agility and speed has placed Raonic as tennis's superstar in training.
The agility work was on anticipation and accelerating fast in his first two steps when returning serves.
"Most of last year, in returning first serves, I was winning around 15 per cent of the points. Last week it was above 30 per cent," Raonic observed on a conference call last night. This year, he won't just stand in the middle waiting for a good shot by an opponent but will anticipate.
He jumped up to No. 25 in the ATP rankings this week after winning the Chennai Open, his second career victory on the tour, with 35 aces. It placed him – at least temporarily – in fourth spot among 2012's money winners. Legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal actually are tied behind him.
He goes after winners. He's not bold enough to say he deserves to be in front, but neither does he believe in being a follower.
It was at the Australian Open where his pro career took off last year. He had three matches at the Chennai Open in India and qualifiers at Australia to get his game ready. This year, he comes to the first Grand Slam event of the year next week as the 23rd seed. That helps, both in terms of self confidence and game strategy.
"It does help out a lot. … In the third round, I can only meet someone seeded between nine and 16, so it makes a difference. My aspirations aren't just to have a good tournament but to compete right to the end."
Raonic said he's not intimidated by top-10 players. "I have a sense I can compete with them. I have the level; I just have to put the things together. I know [top-10 players]they're a better player than me … but tennis is anything on a given day. I just go out there and just try to do the things I need to do. … "The quicker I get good, the happier I'll be. It's obviously better to be at the top sooner than later. After that, it's about levelling out, doing what you can to maintain. Then, it's about improving – you can't just get to a level and stop there. You've got to keep improving. They top guys are always getting better. It's constant progress and development. My work's not done."
He said he gets better and better with more matches. He said playing in Australia is fun and that he has superstitions based on last year – "where I eat, staying on the same floor in the same hotel, staying together as a team."
As for the Olympic Games in London (July 29 through Aug. 5) followed by a Rogers Cup chaser in Toronto (Aug. 4 through 12), "I'd do both for sure. Both are great opportunities. In tennis we play many, many times as back-to-back weeks. … There's no doubt in my mind that if I can do well in the first one, I'd be looking to run with it."