As Milos Raonic left the Australian Open, after a loss to Rafael Nadal, frustration was the overriding theme. Raonic’s former coach, Carlos Moya left him to join Nadal’s team which left the Canadian feeling betrayed. Not to be outdone, he brought in 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek to help improve his game. Not afraid to state his intentions, now is the time for Raonic to make his move. As the older generation begins to decline and the players in the early twenties begin to find their footing on the ATP tour, Raonic may only have a small window to make an impression.
Like all players in the top 10, he possesses weapons but now is the time to make good on his promise. As he plays his next tournament in Delray Beach, Raonic now has to approach every match with the intent of imposing his will.
Hard work is not a problem for Raonic
While many players in his age group and slightly younger then himself hate the idea of going to gym or spending hours on the practice court, Raonic loves the process. Always posting videos on his social media pages, the Canadian has gained the reputation of a hard worker. Former coach John McEnroe stated on several occasions how encouraging it was to see someone want to win so badly. For Raonic, his serve and forehand are his weapons.
When those two shots are firing, he can win against just about anyone. However, his consistency when in tough pressure filled situations has made many wonder if he has what it takes to become a champion. Raonic is at the point in his career where reaching a major quarterfinal is no longer viewed as a good result. Wanting to win is one thing but there is something to the idea of wanting success too much.
Raonic is almost obsessive with his goals and that could be what is prohibiting him from taking that next step. If he wants to take that next step, he is going to need to find a way to improve his backhand, return of serve and overall mental approach.
Having a super coach should help
As shown in his partnership with Moya, Raonic is very receptive to feedback.
Moya encouraged the Canadian to move into the net and use his big forehand to dominate his opponents. This mindset led to a semi-final appearance in Australia and a runner up finish at Wimbledon. Raonic is someone that needs simplicity and with Krajicek, he will get just that. When Krajicek won Wimbledon, he used his serve and volleys to move through the draw. Raonic and Krajicek have similar temperaments which could either be a blessing or a curse. In the end, it all boils down to the fact that Krajicek has something that Raonic wants; a major title. As Wawrinka has shown in recent years, the big 4 do not have a monopoly on the major tournaments anymore. However, Raonic needs to start going into overdrive if he is to ever make a breakthrough.
