Milos Raonic is represented in the draw at the Australian Open. The challenge in the first round could hardly be greater against Alex de Minaur. Is it perhaps the last appearance?
by Daniel Hofmann
last edited: January 13, 2024, 12:33 p.m
Milos Ranic played an exhibition match against Francis Tiafoe in the run-up to the Australian Open.
It was difficult to make sense of Milos Raonic in 2023. After a long injury break, the grass season saw the reunion with the Canadian on the tour. At Wimbledon, Raonic won his first round against Dennis Novak and shortly afterwards even beat Frances Tiafoe at the Canadian Open. This was followed by a first-round defeat against Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open and the season on the tour was already over. A surprising appearance at the Davis Cup followed in November, which meant that the 33-year-old was no longer one of the omnipresent players of the past year.
Already in mid-December, Raonic canceled his participation in the tournament in Hong Kong; a cancellation of his participation in the Australian Open seemed to be a matter of days, but it was not to follow. Instead, after the draw it is clear that the former number three in the ATP rankings will take the court in Melborune against Alex de Minaur in the first round. The Australian will certainly go into the match as the clear favorite, as de Minaur broke into the top 10 for the first time just a few days ago.
Milos Raonic poses puzzles
And Raonic? Nobody currently really knows where the journey will take the eight-time winner on the ATP Tour. Maybe not even Raonic himself, who made it into the main draw in Melbourne with a protected ranking. Milos Raonic may use the other protected rankings in order to be able to play in the main draws at major tournaments. However, this tournament planning would suggest a farewell to professional tennis.
Maybe it will be over after the Australian Open. There was no comment from Milos Raonic, but participation in tournaments is currently so erratic that a sudden news about the end of his career would not surprise anyone.
Here is the singles tableau from the Australian Open 2024
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2024-01-13 18:10:00
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