Raonic returns at National Bank Open

Milos Raonic’s appearance at the National Bank Open next month will be his first in four years, and it could well be his last.

That he competes at all is impressive, as mounting injuries nearly forced him out of the sport.

The 32-year-old from Thornhill, Ontario, received a wild card entry into the main event of the tournament, which will take place August 5-13 at Toronto’s Sobeys Stadium. He last appeared at the Masters 1000 event in 2019 when it was held in Montreal.

An NBO finalist in 2013, Raonic is on a comeback path of sorts after a lengthy absence due to injuries. He triumphed in his first ATP Tour match since July 2021 at the Libema Open in the Netherlands last month, but fell to Tommy Paul in the second round at Wimbledon last Thursday.

“I think there’s a good opportunity,” Raonic said of this year’s NBO, his last. “When I had the idea of ​​wanting to play again, the fact that Wimbledon was in that idea, the fact that the National Bank Open was at home in Toronto was certainly also an important aspect.

“The next chance to play in Toronto would have been in two years. And all that stuff, I was definitely thinking about that as I focused on preparing and getting my body in order. It gave me a very clear purpose , knowing that there was a really strict timeline that I had to really stick to and focus on the preparation.”

After dealing with Achilles tendon and toe injuries in his absence, the former world number 3 said he had told those close to him in addition to his sponsors that he was done playing tennis.

“I was pretty clear about it at the end of 2021,” said Raonic. “I was just in too much pain. I was at the point, through the end of ’21 to most of ’22, where I couldn’t jump rope and things like that.

“My goal wasn’t just to casually play tennis, my goal was to play competitively when I wanted to play. The idea of ​​going from barely jumping rope or jogging to being able to compete… it felt so far away.

“In a lot of ways it was a good thing because it took away a timeline that I had to be ready for. And what I could do was really heal as best I could. Obviously things aren’t perfect, but heal the big issues as well if I could.”

Raonic pulled out of a warm-up leading up to Wimbledon with a shoulder injury, but said he has now taken time off.

World No. 12 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal and No. 29 Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., will also represent Canada in the star-studded tournament.

Headlining the event are the world’s top two seed No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and 23-time Grand Slam champion and five-time NBO winner, second seed Novak Djokovic.

The tournament will take place from August 5 to 13 at Sobeys Stadium.

Toronto brings back many memories for Raonic, from when he was 11 years old playing on center court with other kids his age, hitting as a batting partner for the competitive players as a 16-year-old and then playing as a professional.

“Toronto is especially always emotional for me, just because I grew up 10 minutes away,” he said. “Growing up in Thornhill, I remember being a part of many iterations of the National Bank Open.”

“It’s going to be a lot, it’s also going to be a lot of nerves,” Raonic added. “You want to play well at home and I haven’t played much tennis in the last two years.

“I just hope I can enjoy it more. … Be more grateful for it, because it’s been so long since I’ve been there and had the chance to compete there.”

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 12, 2023.