Milos Raonic has enjoyed a memorable start to his National Bank Open Presented by Rogers run, advancing to the third round at the Toronto ATP Masters 1000 event despite playing just four matches since the 2021 Atlanta Open.

In Florida, Raonic’s childhood coach Casey Curtis, who taught the Canadian from age eight through 17, has keenly followed along.

“I’m just obviously really happy for him. We’ve sort of stayed in touch over the last couple years and I know it’s been a tough grind for him,” Curtis told ATPTour.com. “I knew that he would show up ready to go. He’s not the kind of guy that’s going to try to play himself into shape. He’s going to make sure he’s ready to go before he gets out there and that’s sort of exactly what we’re seeing.”

After struggling with injury, the former No. 3 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings has quickly found his form to compete against some of the best players in the world and after defeating Frances Tiafoe and Taro Daniel, he is a win against Mackenzie McDonald away from making his first Masters 1000 quarter-final since the 2020 Rolex Paris Masters.

It is no surprise to Curtis, who has watched the 32-year-old’s game develop for nearly 25 years.

“He was eight years old and he was on the ball machine at 10 o’clock in the evening and back on again at 6 in the morning with his dad trying to start to get his game into shape so he could join the group that I had going,” Curtis said. “I was coaching him privately and they would work on the ball machine. That was [for] about three months or so. And then he improved quite a bit, but he really picked up his work ethic maybe around the age of 11,12, 13. And [then] I think he understood what it took.

“It wasn’t that he didn’t have the work ethic, I think he always did. But he started to become more aware of exactly the effort that he was going to have to put forth in order to achieve what he’s got now. And he was more than willing to do that once he understood that.”

Milos Raonic” />
^{Photo: Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour}
According to Curtis, he worked with Raonic at Blackmore Tennis Club in Richmond Hill, which is a short drive from Sobeys Stadium. Club owner Terry Redvers would not charge them the court rate and they would arrive for 6 a.m. sessions.

“There are guys that will come out and you tell them, ‘Hey, this is what you really want to do if you want to try to improve your game and become a great player.’ And they’ll do it for a couple of weeks,” Curtis said. “If it’s something like getting up at 5 in the morning or 5:30 in the morning, they’ll think they’ve got it and they’ll show up for a couple of weeks. And then you don’t see them again for a while or at all.

“So Milos had that perseverance. He just kept coming and kept grinding and it’s why he’s where he’s at.”

It was under Curtis that Raonic’s devastating serve grew into the weapon it is today. Raonic began the tournament third in percentage of career service games won according to Infosys ATP Stats, trailing only Ivo Karlovic and John Isner. Part of the reason it became such a big stroke is that Curtis spent a lot of time focussing on it.

“I kind of felt he was going to be a tall guy because every guy in his family is tall. His father’s tall, his brother’s tall, his cousins and uncles are all tall. So there was a good chance Milos was also going to be tall,” Curtis said. “Pretty much everyone knows how important the serve is. But in particular, if you have a tall individual, I thought it was prudent to spend a lot of time on the serve.”

Curtis recalled a discussion he had with another coach, who asked him why he was spending hours upon hours harnessing the Canadian’s delivery.

“I said listen, I want this kid to average 15 aces a match. And if he can average 15 aces a match I think he’s got a good shot at being a top professional,” Curtis said. “He had 37 the other night and 15 today.”

Raonic is World No. 545, but he has certainly not played like it in front of his home fans in Toronto.

“He obviously wants to play. I mean, he wants to keep competing. And I think he can see that he’s obviously capable of playing at the highest level,” Curtis said. “You have to ask him where he thinks he’s going to get to, but nothing would surprise me. I’ll tell you, this guy, he’s one of the few guys that can beat the top one or two guys.”

Hubert Hurkacz will face the toughest test in tennis on Thursday when he plays World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the third round of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers.

The pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash came in last year’s Miami Open presented by Itau semi-finals, won by Alcaraz 7-6(5), 7-6(2). This will be their first matchup since.

Ahead of the match, ATPTour.com spoke to Hurkacz’s coach, Craig Boynton, about how differently he gameplans for the very best players in the world, what makes Alcaraz unique and more.

Obviously you prepare for every match. But how is it different when it is to compete against Alcaraz or someone at that level?
There are a few people. Take Novak for example — Hubi’s played him six or seven times, and however many times he’s played him, he hasn’t beaten him. So with someone like that, you have to sit down and go, ‘Okay, look, we need to change something.’

You’ve got to get out of your comfort zone in some way to make an impact. He’s been close in a few of them, he just hasn’t been able to get over the line. And listen, Novak’s probably the greatest player to ever play. So there are people that you play, that you sit down [and say] these are [the] non-negotiables… The serve is back and you’re in a neutral [rally] — This is the play, this is what you want to key in on, and you want to put the ball in this part of the court with X amount of speed and spin to get the desired ball that you want in order to be in total control of the point.

And if the player cannot neutralise Hubi’s weapons, then it’s more about just keeping your emotional control. And then, the longer the match goes, the more it favours Hubi, because he has the weapons that can’t be neutralised. But at this rarefied air, these guys neutralise just about everything. So you need to be one step ahead.

How different is that compared to a typical match in which you’re playing someone at Hubi’s ranking compared to those in that rarefied air?
At Hubi’s ranking right now, we have the luxury of having played most everybody. So we have a history, which is really invaluable. If you don’t have the history, then it’s really gathering all the information and trying to put Hubi in the best spot.

Now Hubi has a ridiculously great serve. And when that’s rolling, he’s going to hold against just about everybody. I know in game-planning against big servers, when you’re on the return, you’re just waiting for that one game where things don’t go your way on the first serve. So then it’s really about the tactics, because then it’s 50-50 and that’s when that’s when you’ve got to be, really on point with really what you’re trying to accomplish.

You were talking about this sort of rarefied air, it’s a very select group of players. From what you can say, what’s different about Alcaraz compared to the likes of Djokovic and Nadal?
His skillset is [that] his average pace of ball is quite a bit higher than everyone’s and there’s a lot of great movement on the court. Not only is he a great mover, he just can see the play. His vision of the play is really incredible. I would joke that sometimes he knows where you’re going to hit the ball before you know where you’re going to hit the ball.

And then there’s really no weakness per se. There’s not something that breaks down. He competes really, really well. To be in the Top 20, you’ve got to be freakish at something and he seems to be freakish at everything.

What do you remember from Hubi’s match against Alcaraz in Miami that stands out?
Hubi was up in both tie-breaks and very easily could have won 6 and 6. So I don’t know if many people remember that.

Carlos is better and Hubi’s better. Carlos has developed different gears and he’s developed better tools and more precise tools, and he has a better understanding of his game. Hubi has a way of being able to kind of neutralise some of these big hitters with his athleticism and his speed. But again, you don’t want to have to do that time and time again, because the great ones will be able to adapt and adjust just as Hubi’s trying to adapt and adjust.

Carlos is on TV every match he plays. Do you have to sit and go through tape? Are you looking at the Miami match? How do you approach it?
I like to look at head-to-head. I also like to look at what they’ve been doing recently and then I’ll take someone that maybe has beaten who I’m looking at and watch that and see what they did and see if they have comparable weapons that Hubi has.

I like to watch tape and see why somebody wins. And I also like to see what happens when they lost. A lot of pro tennis is matchups on the day. So some of the times the rhythms were off or whatever, they had in their personal life, something didn’t go well or something like that. So I like to take about 20 minutes and just go, ‘He’s really good when this happens and we want to get you in this position’.

So it’s not you’re not sitting there on watching the film for three hours or something like that?
No, I’m not I because I want to keep it simple. Most of how I coach and how I coach Hubi is we go on the court and when the ball comes here, this is how you want to hit it. When the ball comes here, here are your options. And let him play prepared. I like to let my players play prepared, and obviously the better he’s serving and the more free points he has, that can free him up in other areas.

The stars of the ATP Tour motivate fans throughout the world. They have received plenty of reminders of that this week at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Toronto.

The likes of Andy Murray, Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev have all received positive hand-written notes from fans each day in their locker as part of Tennis Canada’s Mental Heath initiative.

“It’s amazing. When you’re playing the matches, obviously you feel the atmosphere and feel the support from the crowd. But you are out there doing it for yourself and your team, predominantly,” Murray said. “But then, whether it’s around the practice courts, or sometimes bumping into people in the street, having people say positive, nice things towards you is brilliant.”

When Murray was younger, he felt he was inspiring young kids on the rise just like he was once motivated by the best players in the world.

“I get more comments from 50, 60 year olds now saying, ‘Oh, I’ve got a metal hip as well’ or, ‘I’ve got a bad hip and you’re inspiring me to keep going’,” Murray said. “So it’s changed a little bit over the years, but it’s always nice.”

Alcaraz is only 20, but has quickly become one of the most popular athletes in the sport. The Spaniard has greatly enjoyed fans’ messages.

“It’s great to know all the love from the people. I read the messages that they write me on social media as well, in every platform and, of course, in the cards as well,” Alcaraz said. “Every day that I get into the locker room, I saw the cards,. And for me, it’s great to read it and know all the love that they have [for] me.”

Rublev is also a fans’ favourite. The 25-year-old makes a point of signing autographs for all fans waiting and giving back to those who spend part of their day watching him perform.

“For sure it’s super nice. I think for the players it’s very kind and very nice to receive those letters of support or something with nice words,” Rublev said. “I’m thinking this way and I guess for the rest of the players it’s the same. It’s super nice and you feel grateful.”

Slowing down is helping speed up Lorenzo Musetti’s ATP Tour ascent.

After winning his second-round match at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers Wednesday against Thanasi Kokkinakis, the Italian has now claimed multiple victories in eight consecutive tournaments. The work the 21-year-old has done to earn that consistency stretches beyond forehands and backhands.

“We are focussing on breathing, on trying to take more time, [to not] hurry up in the difficult situations, trying to think and trying to have a plan before starting to serve,” Musetti told ATPTour.com. “Or having a routine to stay relaxed in your heartbeat and your body. I’m working with a psychologist, and also my team, they are involved in it. I think the mix of the things, they’re working pretty good.”

Musetti faced a stiff test against Kokkinakis, a qualifier with the game to take on anyone who stands across the net. The Italian faced eight break points in the match across a gruelling two hours and 52 minutes, but was able to persevere, saving six of those break chances.

“I’m doing [the work] constantly every day. It keeps improving my game, my mentality. And today was probably the result of this work, and this work ethic that I try to improve and try to learn every day,” Musetti said. “I’m focussing really [on] each practice to try to get better and stay in the right focus. And today, it helped me to win the match because Thanasi was playing really good.”

Musetti has worked with a psychologist since age 18 and it has become an important part of his development.

“When I started to play [professionally], then I felt the need to,” Musetti said. “But even not on the tennis side, especially even for the private life and for Lorenzo outside the court. That’s probably the most important thing.”

Speaking of Musetti’s private life, he recently came to an important decision with his girlfriend: It was time for a haircut. His previously long, flowing locks have received a significant chop. Part of the reason was that the length became a bit of a nuisance in hot, humid conditions.

“Honestly, I don’t know exactly [how long it had been]. But I think mostly two years, one and a half,” Musetti said of the time since his last haircut.. “I remember US Open 2021, I had probably the longest hair that I’ve had. Then I cut it a little bit, but it was still long.”

Musetti will try to continue his run when he faces 2021 Toronto champion Daniil Medvedev. It will be their first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash and an opportunity for the Italian to make his third ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final. There is one thing in particular the two-time Next Gen ATP Finals competitor likes about the World No. 3’s game.

“Probably his defensive skill and let’s say the transition that he has from a defensive position to an offensive position,” Musetti said.

The 16th seed knows he will need to be at his best to challenge the six-time Masters 1000 champion.

“It’s going to be for sure a tough match,” Musetti said. “But hopefully, I can take the centre court and enjoy the match.

“We’ve practised a few times back in the day, sometimes in [the] Mouratoglou [Academy]. We were practising there and sometimes in Monte-Carlo. He’s a nice guy and he’s really talented. For sure, he knows how to play here. I think it will be a nice test for me.”

Hubert Hurkacz and Mate Pavic upset top seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski on Wednesday at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers.

The Polish-Croatian pair fired 14 aces to defeat the defending champions 6-7(2), 7-6(2), 10-5 and book their ticket to the Toronto quarter-finals. Koolhof served for the match at 6-5 in the second set before Hurkacz and Pavic mounted a comeback, with the 26-year-old Pole ripping a forehand return winner on break point to push the Dutch-British team to a second-set tie-break. 

Hurkacz and Pavic will next meet Nicolas Mahut and Vasek Pospisil or Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz. Koolhof and Skupski, who are No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings, were competing in their first match since collecting the Wimbledon title.

Second seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek didn’t fare any better, falling 6-3, 7-6(4) to Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer in their first outing as a pair since a second-round exit at Wimbledon.

In other doubles action, eighth seeds Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin downed Tallon Griekspoor and Jiri Lehecka 6-2, 6-7(6), 10-6 to maintain their form following last week’s triumph in Los Cabos. The Mexican-French duo also won the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami and in Marseille earlier this season.

Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen moved past Marcelo Melo and John Peers 7-6(6), 2-6, 10-7 and seventh seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos reached the last eight after Fabrice Martin and Andreas Mies retired at 4-4.

Carlos Alcaraz survived a competitive battle with Ben Shelton Wednesday night in Toronto in his first outing since winning Wimbledon, fending off his fellow #NextGenATP star to reach the third round of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers.

With Shelton committed to an aggressive gameplan and the top-seeded Spaniard making more errors than normal, little separated the players for the majority of the match, save for one break of serve in the fourth game.

That was the last break point Alcaraz would earn, but he ultimately claimed a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory to extend his winning streak to 13 matches, dating back to his title run at Queen’s.

Alcaraz, who counts ATP Masters 1000 titles in Miami and Madrid among his six titles this season, improved to 18-2 at the Masters 1000 level this season. He is looking for his fifth title at this level.

Alcaraz next faces big-serving Pole Hubert Hurkacz, who rallied from a set down to defeat Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, firing 25 aces in the process.

More to follow…

Mackenzie McDonald caused one of the biggest upsets of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers on Wednesday when he eliminated sixth seed Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-3 in Toronto.

The American will now have a chance to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final when he plays former World No. 3 Milos Raonic on Thursday. ATPTour.com caught up with the former UCLA star last month to learn more about his interests off the court.

If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be and why?
I wish I could go Kobe Bryant. Kobe, Bob Marley and John Wooden, UCLA legend.   

What did you admire about Kobe?
Everything. The guy is one of my favourite competitors of all time.   

If you could switch places with one person for a day who would it be?
LeBron James.

What is your favourite non-tennis memory?
Buying my first car. Pretty good for me. 23 years old, bought my first car.   

What’s your favourite tennis memory?
Fourth round at Wimby. Also winning NCAA singles and doubles [titles] on the same day.   

If you could achieve one thing what would it be?
Live a long life. I want to live [to] 100, healthy.   

As a tennis player?   
As a tennis player, I’d like to win a Slam.   

What’s the coolest perk of being a pro tennis player?   
Free stuff. [The coolest thing I’ve done] is getting to go to the offseason with Roger [Federer] in Dubai.

It was cool. [Novak] Djokovic is a legend now but I think Roger is the pinnacle to the sport. Nicest guy off the court, too. So I’m happy his character is so high.    

What was your pinch-me moment on Tour?
[Reaching] the fourth round of a Slam for the first time, Wimbledon.

Gael Monfils in full flight can be a hard juggernaut to stop — as Stefanos Tsitsipas found out Wednesday at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers.

The Frenchman delivered a dazzling second-round display to upset the fourth-seeded Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-3 at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto. An energised Monfils, playing just his 11th match of the year due to injury, produced several moments of breathtaking power and skill en route to a one-hour, 25-minute triumph.

Wednesday’s win was Monfils’ 350th tour-level triumph on hard courts and can be seen as a statement that the 36-year-old is getting back to his crowd-pleasing best after limited appearances in 2023. The Frenchman converted three of six break points he earned to down Tsitsipas, an ATP 250 champion in Los Cabos just four days ago.

“I knew that Stef had a lot of confidence,” said Monfils after the match. “He would try to go for his shots. I tried to put a lot of balls in, tried to hit quite heavy and not let him dictate too much. I think I did it well.”

Highlights of Monfils’ performance included a trademark jumping forehand in the eighth game of the first set and a 188 km/h forehand winner to bring up set point two games later. It was Monfils’ first win against a Top 5 opponent since he defeated then-World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells last year.

Monfils struggled to finish off Christopher Eubanks in his Toronto opener, being forced to a third set by the American after letting slip two match points. There were no such issues against Tsitsipas, as he confidently levelled the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 2-2.

“It’s always the same. Stay very calm in the head and go for a simple choice,” said Monfils when asked about closing out the match against the Greek. “Maybe I was too simple on the first match point [today] because I could maybe have un leashed one forehand more, but he did it before me. To be honest, I just tried to be cool and try to do what I did during the match. No panic, in a way.”

A two-time semi-finalist at the Canadian Masters 1000 event, Monfils will take on Sebastian Korda or Aleksandar Vukic in the third round.