Raonic Looks To Keep Improving At Miami Open

Milos Raonic has enjoyed one of the best starts to 2016 on the ATP World Tour.

The 6’5” Canadian is 14-2 on the year. He won a title in Brisbane (d. Federer) and reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open (l. to Murray). Last week, at the year’s first ATP World Tour Masters 1000, the BNP Paribas Open, Raonic produced another impressive result by making the final (l. Djokovic).

The 25 year old looks to keep improving this week at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

“I hope I can continue playing like I have in the last few tournaments this year,” Raonic said Tuesday in Miami. “I think my level has improved and I hope I keep that progress going forward.”

Raonic, who bumped up two spots in the Emirates ATP Rankings to No. 12, has yet to achieve a breakout result in Miami. His best showing came in 2014 when he reached the quarter-finals (l. to Nadal). Last year, American John Isner defeated Raonic in the fourth round 6-7(3), 7-6(6), 7-6(5).

Raonic’s health will be a key to better results in Miami. A torn adductor affected him against Andy Murray in Australia, and Raonic sat out the entire month of February to rest. He also sought medical treatment after the first set against Djokovic on Sunday. When Raonic was asked on Sunday if it felt like the adductor again, he said, “Feels similar, but not as bad. I don’t think I let it get as bad.”

But he later said he didn’t think any injury affected his effort. “I thought he played much better than I did,” Raonic said of Djokovic. “I struggled again, just like last time, to start the match well, and then he’s the best player in the world at this moment and a good step ahead of everybody.”

A new addition to Raonic’s team has helped his strong start. In January, Raonic brought former World No. 1 Carlos Moya to his team.

“He’s given me a lot of understanding about my tennis,” Raonic said. “He’s also given me a lot of insight on how to go about the process, how to improve, how to get better, what to improve and how to get closer to achieving the goals that I hope to achieve.”

Raonic will receive a first-round bye in Miami. In the second round, he’ll play either #NextGen star Hyeon Chung of South Korea or American Denis Kudla.