NATIONAL BANK OPEN

August 9, 2023

Milos Raonic

Press Conference

M. RAONIC/T. Daniel

6-4, 6-3

MILOS RAONIC

THE MODERATOR: Milos, how happy were you with the recovery after the long match from Monday night?

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah, it's good. You know, that match was difficult physically, emotionally on Monday. So to come back today and play a pretty clean match, you know, it counts.

It makes a difference today. It will make a difference for tomorrow, as well, so that's something to be happy about.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Very clinical today. Completely dominant on serve. Where do you think, after a match like this, your level is compared to your best, how you were playing before your injury?

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah, I don't think it's really that far off. I think for me the thing is not showing up, playing well, one, two, like, one match at a time, but tennis is 11 months, week after week.

Like, that's kind of the thing for me where it's given me kind of physical issues. It's never been a question so much of level. It's more been like, A, can I push myself physically to prepare the way I need to to be able to play well, and, B, when it comes to matches and stuff, can I be able to kind of withstand that load and that physical exertion kind of week in and week out.

Q. Congratulations on the win. You mentioned afterwards that you played a lot of quiet tennis, you know, leading up to this point. Just describe what that was like and why it makes you appreciate something like today, playing in front of an electric atmosphere and winning.

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah, just where we're kind of based, it's kind of a conscious thing. Like, when we practice, there's nobody there. And maybe during busy times of the year, like, two people might show up, but they're not allowed to be on the court. They're sitting, like, two courts away and they watch.

So personally it's something I also like when it's kind of that training process, because it just becomes you step on court and you have one clear objective, and you kind of take it day in and day out through that.

It's just when you come to competing, that interaction, that energy, it makes a difference. Because in training, you can always put attention to the things you want to.

When it comes to competing, it's not only you in question. Your kind of always trying to find answers, find solutions to issues that come up on court, and trying to find a way to win.

So getting that kind of energy, that kind of response, it makes a difference.

Q. Now that it's been some time since your first round match, I'm wondering if you feel any differently about that net touching incident at the end of the first set. You said you were going to maybe look it up in the rule book.

MILOS RAONIC: It was the right call by Fergus. I think for me the main thing was just the back and forth on it, the fact that there was a few changes about that decision, like, two or three at least.

So, obviously, when somebody changes their mind, you're not exactly sure if they are kind of sure in the decision they're making.

And I think it's also, like, everybody I've kind of spoken to, it's kind of a rule that's -- it's not outdated, but it's kind of not a logical rule. Because I think -- my understanding is if I touch that ball that goes across the court, it is my point.

Because by him leaning on that part of the net, it affects the height of the net; right? So then it becomes my point. So it only counts as a permanent object, or whatever the writing would be, because it's a winner.

But then what happens all the times that I've seen it many times, if somebody serves wide on the deuce side, they go down the line, they hit the let court on that side of the singles stick and it goes in, that means the point should be over.

Because as a permanent object, it should be the same as, you know, hitting the umpire's chair and the ball going in the court. It's not squash. It's tennis; right?

So I think consistency is the most important thing. Also, when I kind of look back at it, I don't know if it's because we have the rubber nets at ATP events, but there probably should be singles sticks.

Like, Grand Slams have singles stick. Like, Center Court here is not getting a single doubles match so far, three days in. They probably should be putting up singles nets. You see it at Grand Slams. They do change them and stuff like that. So maybe that's another aspect. Who knows.

Maybe it's a Fly Emirates thing, I'm assuming, because they want to be there. But I'm pretty sure somebody can put a cardboard box and write "Emirates" on it and they would be happy (smiling).

Yeah, there's a few -- it's not a very clear thing. But the decision by Fergus was the right one.

Q. I know you maintain a friendship with John McEnroe and even after he was part of your team. I'm just curious if you reached out to him or maybe any other pros as you considered making a return to the tour?

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah, I actually spoke to John a few weeks -- well, maybe about a week ago. He kind of checked in. He checked in also after my match.

I don't really speak to anybody before I came back. There was a lot of moments when I was getting ready and I wasn't sure, A, if I would be able to, and, B, if I kind of necessarily wanted to.

So I kind of just did my own thing and tried to come back as quietly as possible. Tried to do no interviews, no nothing about it. Just kind of make my decision purely for myself.

And I have spoken with him since, yeah. I have a good -- when we speak, we speak about a lot of things. Tennis is probably the last thing we speak about between each other. We get along on a lot of different topics, as well.

And, you know, maybe just put some pressure on him that it wouldn't be something that I would -- or it would be something I would like maybe to play the Laver Cup in Vancouver. Could be a nice thing.

Q. I'm probably getting a little bit ahead of myself, but earlier this year a Canadian, Nick Taylor, won the Canadian Open golf tournament. The last time a Canadian won this tournament was 1958. I know you're just back from injuries, but do you feel any kind of pressure being a Canadian here?

MILOS RAONIC: Well, we are very far ahead of ourselves. You know, I've won two matches. Like, there's a long ways to go.

You know, I've, obviously, felt the pressure many times when I've played here to want to play well. But I think for me, like, this time around, probably a lot less considering all the other aspects coming into this tournament.

It's not like -- I came here a few times as one of the higher ranked seeds and these kind of things. It's a very different scenario.

Q. With your performance today, how did it make you feel as far as what you were able to do, maybe the mistakes you need to clean up, or anything like that, and then how do you feel going forward in this tournament?

MILOS RAONIC: Yeah, there was, obviously, some points of frustration today. A few break points I didn't necessarily play well or maybe some opportunities I felt get away, which, when I kind of had opportunities in my last match, I was probably a bit more sharp. But I just kind of kept plugging away and giving myself those chances.

To be honest, after playing well in the first round, having not played many matches back to back in a very long time, I really didn't expect to play that well today. It was kind of -- I knew it would be difficult. I know that that's one of the more difficult things is that kind of picking stuff up and carrying it from one day to the next and having that continuity. So I was very aware of that kind of potentially being the case.

But I thought I did things pretty well, and I think I can play better tomorrow. So hopefully, I can build off that.

Q. You are playing Mackenzie McDonald next. You mentioned the importance of completely recover from this match. Is this your focus for tomorrow or do you have any other thing in mind before your next match tomorrow?

MILOS RAONIC: No. We pretty much have a routine, a checklist that all the things I need to do.

You know, you have to rest well, eat well, do the therapy I need to do with my team. And kind of just go through that to give my body the best chance to heal, and then give myself the best chance to compete and really leave it all out there tomorrow.

And that way, I can have a chance.