Milos Raonic might not feel as if he’s playing 100 per cent like his old self, but, early into his comeback season, the Canadian has already returned to familiar territory on the ATP World Tour.

The 2016 Indian Wells finalist (l. to Djokovic) reached his third BNP Paribas Open semi-final (2015) on Friday, beating Sam Querrey of the U.S. for the third consecutive time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 7-5, 2-6, 6-3. The 6’5” right-hander is into his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final in 17 months (2016 Paris). Raonic will next meet the winner of Friday’s second quarter-final, sixth seed and 2013 finalist Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina or 31^st seed Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany.

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Raonic came through the old-school way, too – serving and volleying and attacking the net against Querrey, who was playing in his first Masters 1000 quarter-final. The 32^nd seed rushed the net 43 times, winning about half of those attempts (21). He also slapped 43 winners to only 25 unforced errors.

But it was Querrey who was rolling early in their semi-final. When he stepped up to the line to serve at 5-4, the American had lost only three points on serve. But nerves struck Querrey, who had played in a Wimbledon semi-final but never a Masters 1000 quarter-final, and he lost his way. Raonic won 17 of the set’s final 21 points, including two breaks of serve, to take the opener.

The home favourite Querrey, however, came back quickly, breaking twice in the second set and ridding himself of any first-set flashbacks by winning the set with a love service game. The decider came down to the wire, mirroring their tight FedEx ATP Head2Head series. Raonic broke in the eighth game but, as he tried to serve out the match, Querrey had three opportunities to break, all of which were saved by the Canadian.

Sam Querrey often visited the BNP Paribas Open with his family growing up, so it comes as no surprise that the Californian favours the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in March.

After three Masters 1000 quarter-final appearances – 2007 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, 2008 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and 2012 Rolex Paris Masters – the American could reach his first semi-final, should he beat Milos Raonic on Friday in Indian Wells.

This week, he reflected on his Masters 1000 journey, which includes teaming up with John Isner for the 2011 Internazionali BNL d’Italia doubles crown.

What is your favourite Masters 1000 tournament and why?
I love all of the Masters 1000 tournaments, but Indian Wells is probably my favourite as I grew up in California and all of my friends and family can come down here and watch. It’s a great venue and an amazing atmosphere. I do enjoy the golf when I’m here, but I haven’t played as much in the past couple of years. I definitely want to get back into it and this is the place to do so.

Which Masters 1000 would you most like to win?
The Masters 1000 I’d most like to win is Indian Wells.

Which is your favourite Masters 1000 centre court to play on?
It has to be Indian Wells!

What is your favourite Masters 1000 memory?
One time at the Miami tournament I got to do batting practice with the Marlins and at Cincinnati I got to do batting practice with the Reds. I’m a big baseball fan, so the opportunity to do that was really fun.

Do you recall when and where you made your Masters 1000 debut?
Yes, it was in Indian Wells! I played Bobby Reynolds in the first round and won, then I lost then No. 6-ranked James Blake in the second round. I won the first set 6-1, then in my head I thought, ‘I’ll be ranked No. 1 in no time.’ He then came back and won easily.

What has been your best Masters 1000 win?
It has to be against Novak Djokovic in Paris [the 2012 Rolex Paris Masters, 0-6 7-6(5), 6-4] a few years ago. It was my first victory over him and to do it at a Masters 1000 was pretty special.

What has been your toughest match at a Masters 1000?
I played Dominic Thiem in Rome last year [one of the ATP World Tour best matches of 2017] and I had a couple of match points in the third set [3-6, 6-3, 7-6(7)]. It was tough, because it was so close against a great clay-court opponent. It would have been a great win, but he snuck by me. He is an incredible player.

What is the toughest part about Masters 1000 tournaments?
You can play against a player in the Top 40 in the first match. That’s tough. You have to win six matches, if you’re not seeded, against Top 50 players and against guys in the Top 10 eventually. That’s why they are so difficult to win!

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Alex Bolt knows this all too well. 

For those competing on the ATP Challenger Tour, the early 20s is a time for growth and development, as players look to build their games and fight to climb the ATP Rankings. They seek to embrace the on-the-road lifestyle, bouncing from tournament to tournament with dreams of ascending to the ATP World Tour.

But, for some, the pursuit of the Top 100 and beyond can take its toll. Two years ago, citing waning motivation and passion, Bolt hung up his racquets at the age of 23. Having competed on the circuit for many years, the Aussie – a former World No. 160 – grappled with the rigours of the tour and struggled to find consistent success. 

“At the start of 2016, I was battling mentally,” Bolt told ATPWorldTour.com. “I was losing the love of the game and when I was on court I didn’t like competing. When that happened, I stopped playing. I didn’t touch a racquet for nine months. But I saw all the other guys doing well and that made me want to come back. Here I am now.”

An unwavering commitment and passion is a prerequisite to life on tour. As Bolt saw his devotion to the game wane, he left his racquet for a hammer. In his time away from the court, he pursued a career in construction, building fences at home in Australia. But his venture away from tennis only made his love of the game stronger. The Aussie may have left the sport, but it never left him.

Following a year hiatus, Bolt was back, returning at the start of the 2017 season. And it did not take long for him to rediscover his rhythm. An ATP Ranking outside the Top 600 soon vaulted inside the Top 400 with a final on the grass of Ilkley. Next stop: the Top 250 with a final in Traralgon in October. 

On Sunday, the 25-year-old would make his Top 200 return, notching his second Challenger crown and first since claiming his maiden title in 2014. Having come through qualifying, Bolt did not drop a set in breezing to the final, where he rallied past Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-2. 

He’s back in the winners’ circle! @abolt15 celebrates his first #ATPChallenger title in four years, rallying past Hubert Hurkacz 57 76(4) 62 in Zhuhai. pic.twitter.com/4ZxT3T9GKD

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) March 11, 2018

“The comeback is real and I have a Challenger title to my name. This is definitely special. A year ago, I didn’t think I was going to pick up a racquet again. It’s just amazing. I never thought I’d be back in this situation. 

“As the year went on, I was finding more confidence in my game. That was the big thing that was holding me back. That is, the belief that I could win these kinds of tournaments. Now the results are starting to show and I’m gradually getting the confidence back.

“It’s pretty amazing right now. It’s been quite a while since I last held up a trophy. It was in China as well. I didn’t expect too much from myself coming into the week from qualifying. But getting through qualifying and winning the title, it’s been an unbelievable week. I just competed for every point. I took every point as it came and that’s why I had such a good result.”

Bolt is an integral part of a larger Challenger movement in his native Australia. He is one of five different Aussies to lift a trophy already this year, joining Jason Kubler (Playford), Marc Polmans (Launceston), Jordan Thompson (Chennai) and John Millman (Kyoto). With Kubler and Millman finding immediate success in returns from injury, Bolt has found inspiration in their comebacks.

“It’s very inspiring. I’m mates with all those guys. It’s great to see that they are fit and healthy and back on court. They’re great players and it’s so good that Australia has all these quality guys and we’re pushing each other. Hopefu we’re all in the Top 100 one day.”

The Murray Bridge native had risen to World No. 160 in March 2015, less than a year after claiming his maiden Challenger crown on the clay of Anning, China. Now, three years later, Bolt is on course to eclipse his career-high ATP Ranking. But the left-hander says he’s not taking anything for granted. After returning to the winners’ circle, he admits it’s time to reassess his goals.

“My goal at the start of the year was to reach the Top 200 and get into French Open qualifying. It looks like I’m there already. I’m going to have to go back with my coaches and re-think where I’m at.”