Milos Raonic: “Overall I can't complain too much. I fought my way through” - UBITENNIS
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Milos Raonic: “Overall I can’t complain too much. I fought my way through”

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TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN – 26th of January 2015. M.Raonic d. F.Lopez 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3. An interview with Milos Raonic

 

Q. How do you sum that one up?

MILOS RAONIC: I thought it was okay. I’m happy with sort of the attitude that got me through. I stayed calm even though things weren’t always panning out how I would have liked. I came up with the right play on my first match point. He came up with a great shot. Missed a lot of breakpoint opportunities, but overall I can’t complain too much. I fought my way through.

Q. Compared to the level of your other matches?

MILOS RAONIC: It depends. Because obviously he was changing up things. Obviously I felt better playing against Becker. But I think the level was about the same. But just because he was changing up things a lot, him making me feel more uncomfortable. So I don’t think it was on my level.

Q. Did the Canadian weather conditions have an effect on the speed?

MILOS RAONIC: This is too warm to call it Canadian weather conditions (smiling). So I don’t think so.

Q. A lot seemed to be made in the post-match interview of all the history you created. I think they mentioned the last person that made three quarterfinals from Canada happened 100 years ago. Do you think about that history at all going onto the court? Is that something that motivates you, your rewriting your country’s history books?

MILOS RAONIC: Honestly, I didn’t know that was a stat before I went out there. No, it’s great to be doing what I’m doing and that it is making a difference. It is, I guess, part of some history, if you look really deep. But at the end of the day, at the same time, I’m always pushing myself for what I want to achieve. I’m always sort of looking in the mirror and saying, That’s who I have to compare myself to: to myself.

Q. What did you feel when the fourth set ended and you weren’t able to finish it off?

MILOS RAONIC: I felt fine. I took a second just to sort of think back and understand there’s no tiebreak in this one, and I don’t think I’m going to lose my serve. I feel pretty comfortable in that situation. So I was pretty ready to guts it out.

Q. How about the fact that he double-faulted on all the breakpoints and service games that he lost?

MILOS RAONIC: That’s a bonus. If I can’t do it, thankfully he did it for me.

Q. Do you take credit for that because he’s under pressure?

MILOS RAONIC: It was. Even the first breakpoint he saved at the beginning of the match, he goes for a big serve down the T. A few times that helped him. Obviously when he was doing that, I was just telling myself, Okay, keep putting him in that situation, make him come up with it. It worked out in the end. It could have been a lot longer if he makes that second serve going for it hard. But it is what it is. I’m glad with the way I took care of my serve, and I was able to put pressure on his service games as well.

Q. How long have you been wearing a sleeve?

MILOS RAONIC: Since Miami of last year.

Q. Is that precautionary?

MILOS RAONIC: First it was for medical purposes. I had a rash and I couldn’t have my arm in the sun, so I had to play with long sleeves. I wasn’t really too fond of that, with the warmth in Miami. I went on with that. I’ve liked the feeling ever since. It’s compression. Never feels like it gets too hot. But on a day like today that’s cool, it feels like it’s nice and warm.

Q. If it is Djokovic, what would you take from the match at the French and Italy last year?

MILOS RAONIC: I think I’m doing things differently. I’m moving better. I feel like I have it within myself. I just got to bring it out. I’m going to, like always, focus on myself first, make sure that I get my things in order, get my things organized, play my game, then throughout the match make the adjustments I have to.

Q. Is there something you like about playing against him?

MILOS RAONIC: I play for the opportunity to have a shot against the big guys at the big slams. So the first week’s about getting through and giving yourself that opportunity. I think that has a significant enough meaning on its own.

Q. Roger likes watching matches while he’s here, stay up and watch. Would you have watched Murray, for example?

MILOS RAONIC: I did not watch Murray. I did watch the end of the Seppi match after I got back. I watched about two and a half sets of the Murray match just because I woke up early that day, and I’m not going to neglect myself if I feel tired of sleep to stay up and watch. But I do enjoy watching throughout the tournaments.

Q. Are you watching as a fan or as a professional to pick up stuff?

MILOS RAONIC: As a fan, but I don’t neglect the opportunity to learn as much as I can.

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Alexander Zverev Deserves More Respect According To Boris Becker

According to Boris Becker, Alexander Zverev deserves more respect from tennis journalists.

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Alexander Zverev (@WeAreTennis - Twitter)

Boris Becker has claimed that Alexander Zverev deserves more respect despite Zverev failing to live up to his potential at Grand Slams.

 

Zverev has only reached one Grand Slam final in his career despite being a regular inside the world’s top ten as well as performing at regular ATP events.

This season Zverev played a limited schedule after recovering from an ankle injury but still managed to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals.

However most critics have been loud when judging Zverev’s career as it was looking likely that he would be a regular Grand Slam champion.

The German has failed to live up to expectations but former Grand Slam champion Boris Becker believes Zverev deserves more respect.

Speaking to Eurosport Becker also said that Zverev’s father being the coach is a more than successful approach when it comes to the former US Open finalist’s career, “In my opinion, he doesn’t get enough respect from the tennis experts internationally,” Becker explained.

“They’re all talking about the young three or four, but don’t give Zverev, Medvedev or Rublev enough respect. He’s playing with his fist in his pocket a little bit, wants everyone show that he is not a thing of the past, but that his best time is yet to come.

“Surely his father knows best what is good for his son, but if you look into the box at the competition, you can also see changes.”

Becker has followed Zverev for most of his career so knows that the best is yet to come from the German.

Alexander Zverev will look to prove himself next season when he starts his 2024 season when he represents Germany at the United Cup.

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Juan Carlos Ferrero Analyses Key Areas For Carlos Alcaraz’s Development

Juan Carlos Ferrero has outlined the next steps in Carlos Alcaraz’s development.

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(@tennisnewsbrazil - Twitter)

Carlos Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero has analysed the key areas for the Spaniard’s development heading into the 2024 season.

 

The former world number one’s season has come to an end after a successful year which saw him win the Wimbledon title as well as winning two Masters 1000 titles.

Alcaraz capped off an incredible season by reaching the semi-finals at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.

However there is a long way for the Spaniard to go if he wants to consistently go toe-to-toe with Novak Djokovic.

Speaking to Marca Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero spoke about the Spaniard’s development and said that Alcaraz is too emotional, “Be more regular in games, not open doors. Sometimes there are mistakes and it is something that we have to improve a lot,” Ferrero commented.

“Although it is true that he opens doors, he always competes well and at the highest level. He knows it, the other day he already said that Novak doesn’t give you one. He has to improve his decision making and he will achieve that with experience. Carlos is very emotional and that sometimes helps him and other times not so much.”

It’s clear Alcaraz’s high-quality is there but to consistently do it against Djokovic is another task altogether as the Spaniard looks to go from strength-to strength next season.

One area that is clearly a priority for Alcaraz is physical conditioning especially considering what happened against Djokovic at Roland Garros earlier in the season.

Ferrero said that will be a clear focus heading into 2024 but couldn’t guarantee that Alcaraz will play a tournament before the Australian Open, “Because of the year and the fatigue he has been in, what he needs is rest and disconnecting for 8-10 days with his friends,” Ferrero stated.

“From there, the thinking must go back to working really hard, strong and well to start very strongly in Australia. One can never be sure of that. Sometimes you play a tournament and it doesn’t go well, you left home too early. There are many ways of thinking.

“This year we haven’t played Australia and he finishes number two. That means there is no urgency to play a tournament early. Carlos is a player who enters competition quickly, you don’t usually see him without rhythm.

“Although it is true that he becomes more dangerous from the round of 16, from the quarter-finals. I am confident that the two exhibition matches and the training sessions will help us play a good tournament.”

Alcaraz will be looking to play the Australian Open which starts on the 15th of January after the Spaniard missed last year’s tournament due to a leg injury.

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Australian Open Chief Confident Nadal Will Play But Kyrgios’ Participation Uncertain

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Nadal RG 2022 by Night (foto @RolandGarros)

The tournament director of the Australian Open says he is ‘certain’ that Rafael Nadal will play at the Grand Slam even though the Spaniard has yet to outline his comeback plans. 

 

Craig Tiley told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday he hopes to receive some clarity over Nadal’s intentions in the next couple of weeks but is confident he will play. However, the tennis official had previously claimed in October that the former world No.1 had already committed to play in the event before his team denied that statement.  

Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, hasn’t played a Tour match since his second round defeat at the Australian Open in January due to a hip injury. He was originally expecting to take an eight-week break but the recovery didn’t go to plan and he ended up having surgery. In May he confirmed that he will take an extended break from the sport to heal his body and admitted that retirement next year is a possibility.

“Rafa has been training, I follow him closely, probably every day because he’s a massive drawcard for us,” the Reuters News Agency quoted Tiley as saying. 
“He wants to play, he’s obviously planning on playing. It all depends on how he pulls up.
“Hopefully in the next week or the next two weeks, we get some specific confirmation of that. I’m certain Rafa will be here because he’s not going to want to miss the opportunity to repeat what he did a couple of years ago.”

Earlier this month Nadal confirmed that he intends to return to the Tour but admits that he will continue to experience a degree of pain. Although he has yet to give any information about which tournament he will begin his comeback at. The 2024 season begins during the first week of January.

“I’m well, training, and happy. I’m at a good stage of my life,” atptour.com quoted Nadal as telling reporters in Barcelona.
“Until now I didn’t know if I would play tennis again someday, and now I genuinely believe I will. I’m still not ready to say when, but I’m able to train increasingly longer, and the progress is good.’

Will Kyrgios play?

Another player Tiley is eager to welcome back is home player and former Wimbledon Finalist Nick Kyrgios who has only played one Tour-level match this season due to injury. He underwent knee surgery in January and then tore a ligament in his wrist during the summer. As a result, the Australian currently doesn’t have an ATP ranking due to his inactivity. 

“We have spoken to Nick, and he obviously wants to do the best he possibly can to give him the best chance to play in January,” Tiley said of Kyrgios.
“Whether he’s playing, whether he’s doing something else, Nick will be here in January and to get him to play will be great. But we’ve got to take it as it comes and he’s got to make sure he takes care of his health …” 

Kyrgios recently worked as an analyst for the Tennis Channel during this year’s ATP Finals in Turin and gave a brief update on his ongoing recovery during a segment. 

“After last year, I had such a great year, and I’m so hungry to get back out there,” the 2022 Wimbledon finalist commented.
“So I’m doing everything I can to get back out there. Obviously, you know how injuries are every day, just doing the rehab, doing the gym work.”

The Australian Open will begin on Sunday 14th January. Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka are the defending champions. 

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