Milos Raonic is swiping through his phone. We’re in a booth at a Miami steak house, picking at shrimp-and-quinoa salads, talking about athletes and writing, when he finds Kobe Bryant’s retirement poem, a love letter to basketball. “You’re a writer,” he says to me. “I want to hear your literary take.” This is typical. Not so much the poetry part as the seeking-out opinions. 

Last year, while recovering from back spasms, the 25-year-old Canadian asked himself, “What is the stuff I like to do the least and can it help me?” One answer? Writing. Now every night Raonic, currently ranked seventh, jots down “ideas, emotions” in a leather notebook. He’s been reading books like The Art of Learning, by the chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin. 

Tennis is a game of slim margins, especially at the top. Every player is looking for that something to close the gap. Commentator Justin Gimelstob believes one of Raonic’s strengths is “he isn’t afraid to be great.”

Read the full article in Vogue

Carlos Berlocq continued his surprise run at the Konzum Croatia Open Umag on Friday, stunning third seed Jeremy Chardy in a flawless display, 6-4, 6-2.

The Argentinean won 84 per cent of his first serve points and converted on four of nine break point opportunities. From 5-4 in the opening set, Berlocq reeled off six consecutive games as Chardy was left looking for answers. Berlocq’s only hiccup came when he tried to serve out the match at 5-0 in the second set, but made good on his next service game to close out the win.

Berlocq is into his first ATP World Tour semi-final since Buenos Aires in February 2015. He also evened his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Chardy to 1-1.

Next up for Berlocq is the winner of the quarter-final between second seed Joao Sousa and Andrej Martin.

Earlier in the day, Gastao Elias scored another upset win over by defeating sixth seed Pablo Carreno Busta in their quarter-final, 6-4, 6-4.  The Portuguese player was more efficient in all areas than his opponent, winning more service points (56 per cent to 46 per cent ) and return points (53 per cent to 43 per cent).

Elias saved a match point on Thursday in his second-round win over top seed and defending champion Pablo Cuevas. He is now into his second ATP World Tour semi-final of the year, having accomplished that feat last week at the SkiStar Swedish Open.

Elias will play the winner of the quarter-final between fourth seed Fabio Fognini and Damir Dzumhur.

Nikoloz Basilashvili became the first player from Georgia to reach an ATP World Tour singles final after making quick work of Serbian Dusan Lajovic at the Generali Open – Kitzbühel on Friday.

“I’m very happy [and] very proud of myself. I worked very hard for this,” said Basilashvili, whose banner season includes Challenger titles from Guangzhou (d. Lacko) and Heilbronn (d. Struff).

“I gave 100% today. It was a very important match. I was a little bit nervous but I think I played great.”

The unseeded 24-year-old swept past his 26-year-old opponent 6-3, 6-1 in 64 minutes. Basilashvili won 73 per cent of first-serve points (30 of 41) and broke Lajovic four times en route to victory.

Lajovic was bidding for his first final of 2016, having also fallen at this same stage in Sao Paulo (l. to Cuevas).

Basilashvili awaits the winner between fourth seed Paolo Lorenzi of Italy and Austria’s Gerald Melzer.

An overnight delay couldn’t help second seed Gilles Simon turn his second-round match around against qualifier Thiago Monteiro at the J. Safra Sarasin Swiss Open Gstaad. The Brazilian led 6-4, 4-3 when play was suspended on Thursday evening due to rain and returned Friday to oust Simon 6-2, 6-4.

After strong showings on the ATP Challenger Tour this season, World No. 110 Monteiro is through to his second ATP World Tour quarter-final of 2016, having also reached the last eight on home soil in Sao Paulo (l. to Cuevas).

Another seed exited as Dustin Brown upset No. 7 Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 6-4 in 71 minutes to reach the semi-finals. The German saved the eight break points he faced as he won the pair’s first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting. Brown is coming off a quarter-final showing in Bastad (l. to Ferrer) and goes on to face top seed Feliciano Lopez. Lopez was tested in his quarter-final affair against #NextGen star Elias Ymer, needing five match points to turn aside the young Swede 6-4, 7-6(2). The Spaniard, who prevailed after one hour and 46 minutes, was denied on four match points at 6-5 in the second set, as Ymer battled back from 0/40 down to force a tie-break. Lopez proved to be too strong, however, reaching his third ATP World Tour semi-final of the year (Houston & Dubai).

“It was a tough match,” said Lopez. “He’s a very talented young player and one of the young stars of the new generation that they are really pushing. The fact that I didn’t win the second set 7-5 and he saved four match points shows you that. I was a little tight but then I played a very good tie-break. Maybe there was a 10-year difference, but I try to be in shape to face those young stars.”

Karen Khachanov, an integral member of the ATP’s Next Generation, enjoyed a strong week in his debut at the Generali Open Kitzbuhel. The Russian, who is projected to rise to a career-high No. 95 in the Emirates ATP Rankings after advancing to the quarter-finals, toppled defending champion Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets on Wednesday. Khachanov reflected on his week in the mountain town with ATPWorldTour.com.

“The scenery is amazing in Kitzbuhel. It’s one of the more beautiful and relaxing places I’ve played in, in my career. I could sit back and look at the mountains all day!”

“My coach Galo Blanco and I discuss the game plan for the day. I always begin with the same stretching routine to get loose, which is very important even if I don’t have a match. Here in Kitzbuhel, the tournament has many open spaces to spread out and get in a good workout.”

“Time for practice. I hit with Taro Daniel during the week. He also lives in Spain, but I’m pretty sure his Spanish is better. It’s improving little by little. Vamos!”

“I want to win, even when I’m relaxing with other players off the court. I’m very competitive. Albert Montanes was a tough opponent, but I won.”

“I love to eat and it’s always fun to go out for dinner with my coach Galo. I love having him in my corner and it’s great to be able to relax together after a long day of hard work.”

“I couldn’t take home the trophy this week, but I hope to be back next year to lift it after the final. This is what I play for every week and I’m always fighting to get better.”

Reigning champion Tomas Berdych, former top-tenner Richard Gasquet and World No. 11 David Goffin lead the early commitments to contest the 2016 Shenzhen Open. The ATP World Tour 250 hard-court tournament announced the trio’s participation at a press conference on Thursday, featuring 2003 Roland Garros men’s singles champion Juan Carlos Ferrero as the special guest.

The former world No. 1 is on a four-day tour in China with long-time coach Antonio Martínez Cascales, meeting fans and young talents in Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai. Ferrero and Casacales have also been operating The Grand Gemdale-JC Ferrero International Tennis Academy in Shenzhen since 2014.

“I am happy to be part of the press conference today, I love China,” said the retired Spaniard. “It is a pity that I could not play at the Shenzhen Open this year. I do think I stand a chance for the title.”

One of the most popular players among Chinese tennis enthusiasts, Berdych will return to defend his title having recently made the semi-finals at Wimbledon. He is looking to qualify for The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for a seventh consecutive season.

After a hiatus last year Richard Gasquet will return to the 2016 Shenzhen Open. The 30-year-old Frenchman lifted his 13th ATP World Tour title in Montpellier in February prevailing 7-5, 6-4 over countryman Paul-Henri Mathieu.

The 2016 Shenzhen Open also sees the debut of David Goffin, who has a record of 31-13 on the season. Currently at a career-high Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 11, the Belgian has been a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros as well as a semi-finalist back-to-back at the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open.

The Shenzhen Open will be held from 24 September to 2 October at the Longgang Sports Centre and kicks off The ATP World Tour’s three-week China Wing. Another ATP World Tour 250 event in Chengdu will be held in the same week, followed by the China Open in Beijing and the Shanghai Rolex Masters.