Raonic wins first match back from injury; calls for a review
TOKYO — After returning to the ATP Tour in style by beating Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-4 at the Japan Open on Tuesday, Milos Raonic called for a review of the tennis circuit.
It was Raonic’s first match following a seven-week absence after left-wrist surgery. The big-serving Canadian has withdrawn from five events this year, and conceded walkovers at two others.
“It’s been very frustrating,” said Raonic, who started the year at No. 3 and has slipped to No. 12 in the rankings. “I’ve had more than a dozen different injuries and reasons that have kept me away from tournaments. That hasn’t been fun because I haven’t been able to focus on tennis, I’ve been focusing on ‘Can I play today or can’t I?’ rather than, ‘What do I need to do with my tennis game?’”
Raonic knows tennis isn’t a sport that’s easy on the body, and the travel and length of the season are demanding, too.