Former world No.1 John McEnroe has ended his collaboration with Milos Raonic due to his ongoing working commitments with ESPN.
McEnroe was hired by Raonic initially as a mentor to help him his throughout the grass-court season. During that Period, the Canadian achieved a 10-2 win-loss record on the surface and reached his first ever grand slam final at the Wimbledon championships, losing to Andy Murray. Shortly after his Wimbledon run, Raonic confirmed that he would continue working with McEnroe during the early part of the North American hard-court season.
The seemingly strong bond between the two have now come to an end as McEnroe tries to fulfill his media commitments with ESPN. McEnroe’s departure will not have a massive impact of Raonic’s current coaching arrangement. The world No.6 will remain with his two main coaches Carlos Moya and Riccardo Piatti.
“It ended up becoming an issue at Wimbledon,” McEnroe said.
“He’s got a great team around him. I think it’s best and easiest at this point. This week I was with him, but having thought about it, and for Milos’s sake, for ESPN and my sake, I think it’s best that we stop right now doing what we’re doing.
“So when the US Open starts on Monday, he’s got his people. I’m pulling for him and want him to do well.”
There is still a possibility that the two could reunite of some point in the future if Raonic wants to seek the guidance of the 57-year-old once again.
“If Milos wanted to come for a week in October, November and work, that would be to me, like, an incredible thing,” McEnroe said.
“So I’m open to the possibility of it. But I think at this particular time it makes life easier not to continue it. I’m not sure, would be the honest answer.”
Raonic will start his US Open campaign against Germany’s Dustin Brown. It will be the first ever meeting between the two players.
