Next Up: Sam Querrey « Milos Raonic

27Jun/12Off

Next Up: Sam Querrey

After his 80 second finale versus Giraldo today, Milos will face Sam Querrey tomorrow on Court 1, at about noon EDT. They've never met in official play, but I think Milos knows what he has to do to win. In an interview earlier today, Milos discussed his win and his upcoming match with Sam Querrey. http://watch.tsn.ca/tennis/clip710424#clip710424 -- wacb

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tom semeniuk
July 12th, 2012 - 20:37

Not a good day but put it behind and move on.
J
July 12th, 2012 - 15:42

Wasn’t able to watch his match today. Looks like he had a rough time out there. First serve only 50%.

Hope for the best at the Olympics.
J
July 11th, 2012 - 13:37

That’s weird. Milos’ entire bracket is not playing today but quarterfinals start tomorrow. The rest of matches in the other quarters are all playing today but his and Ryan Harrison’s matches aren’t scheduled. So when are he and Ryan Harrison going to play their matches then?
- Robert
  July 11th, 2012 - 17:03
  
  Starting on Monday, with a 32 draw, could it really be different ? But you are right : assuming Milos wins the championship, he will have played everyday starting tomorrow. And this is assuming there is no rain. I suppose it is the way it goes. I think Milos was right not to get involved in doubles. And then a good break for him until the Olympics ! By the way, what are ” the other two fundamental things that everyone complains about” ? I didn’t get it. Tks for your report.
  - J
    July 12th, 2012 - 01:37
    
    I might have been a little overdramatic when I mentioned the two things that everyone complains about. I’m referring to the two areas he needs to improve on the most: movement and return.
    - Robert
      July 12th, 2012 - 04:40
      
      Thank you for the answer. You are right : Isner will have an extra day of rest over Milos and Harrison.
Robert
July 11th, 2012 - 12:23

Thanks to J and Tomaso for your reports ! I just saw highlights and some press items. It is obvious Milos was nervous and got angry at times. After his loss to Querrey at Wimbledon, this first round at Newport must have been very important to him. He so much wants to be a good grass player. With his style of tennis, he needs to dictate and tried to attack as much as possible. At least, you can’t say he was too passive. But probably he was a little too nervous and lost his temper once in a while.

In Open Court Montreal Gazette, Stephanie Myles stresses a good point : “It was a textbook example of what happens once a player is out on Tour for awhile. At first, he’s fresh meat and the book isn’t out on him. Now, he’s more of an open book. Of course, none of that matters all that much if you can’t touch his serve. But as much variety as he has with that stroke, no doubt people are studying his patterns there as well.”

I think it is very true. Milos has to cope with opponents that know his game. Besides he must feel the pressure of many who want him to get in the Top ten, especially being so close to Canada.

I hope that with the help of his coach he runs in safe waters and performs well in the next matches ! And, when he gets some time for training, he will have to diversify his game. A few weeks in Barcelona would be good. I just hope sponsors and showbiz are not too demanding for him in Northern America !
Tomaso
July 9th, 2012 - 21:34

Newport, July 10, second-up on Centre Court: Milos v M Ebden (ATP#80). Likely second-round opponent would be David Goffin (currently ATP#59) who has risen 115 ranking points since the beginning of this year; Goffin came into the French Open as a Lucky Loser, then made it all the way to the fourth round where he took a set off Roger Federer before going down. Now ranked third among U21’s, ahead of Ryan Harrison, behind Milos and Bernard Tomic.
- Tomaso
  July 10th, 2012 - 17:16
  
  Raonic d Ebden 36 63 75: Milos got off to a terrible start in the 1st set, with 1st serve less than 50% 4 double-faults and 2nd serve not particularly effective, at 42%. Ebden broke; Milos could not convert on either of two break points. Second set, 1st serve is still (52%) not going in, but second serve is more effective, at 75%, so no break points for Ebden. On the return game Milos did not get a single point off Ebden’s 1st serve; fortunately that 1st serve was in only 53% of the time: two break chances for Milos, one of which converted, to make it 3-1, enough to win the set. Third set, Milos is still serving up aces, but only getting 1st serve in 51% of the time; second serve working well enough (60%) to prevent Ebden from converting on his two break chances. Finally, at 5-5, Milos manages a last-minute break to take the set and match. Some interesting comments (especially about “rage” — which Stephanie Myles blames on a too tight headband!) from Jeff D: https://twitter.com/jdsquaredd . [Goffin went down, so B Becker next up for Milos, in Round Two.]
  - J
    July 10th, 2012 - 22:54
    
    I watched a little bit of the first set against Ebden and boy was Raonic horrible.
    
    He was very impatient with the ball. He was trying to go for the winner early but he netted a lot of his shots on the important points. That caused him to almost break his racquet in the first set (pulled himself back from actually doing it) but in general his attitude and body language was poor, almost reminiscent of Murray. He was berating himself, yelling and looking really down. Much different from the clay court season when he was composed even though you could tell he was frustrated at times.
    
    I just think he tries to go for too much on a lot of points. Ebden noticed that and he just tried to get the ball back in play so that Milos would make a mistake and sure enough, Milos would either net a forehand or sail it well wide of the line.
    
    Although his movement and reaction time leave something to be desired, I really think Blanco needs to calm the guy down and tell him to be patient. That would help his return game a lot more at this point than working on the other two fundamental things that everyone complains about.
    
    Also, Raonic’s headband makes a reappearance. I think he could have gotten a haircut in T.O. last week though so to see him trying it out again is weird.
TOM
July 3rd, 2012 - 01:27

Robert thanks for your insightfull prospective and commentary on our analytical overviews on Milos’s performance at Wimby..
I predict Milos will break through this year in a big way and will make us all proud.
It’s going to happen.
Once he breaks through that mental barrier the consistancy will automatically improve to another level.
Robert
July 2nd, 2012 - 17:47

As many of you, I was disappointed by the result. It is not easy to play face to a mirror ! And a mirror, Sam is (great serve, good forehand), though, in my opinion, by far, not as good as Milos and with much less potential. Milos obviously did not expect such a good serve from Sam, but, may be even more, such a good return. The only drawback easy to see : Querrey doesn’t know how to play at the net. Each time, Milos went to the net (on his serve), Milos won. Each time, he went on rallies, he lost. And, for some reason, losing on the score, Milos went less and less to the net !

Besides, he needs to diversify his game. His forehand, though good, is not enough ! His top spin may be appropriate on clay, not that much on grass. No drop shots which would have been very effective against a player who never comes to the net.

I know Milos could have won on tie breaks. But, against Querrey, I think he could do much better and be much more offensive.

Now, of course, I know it is easier said on paper. Sampras said it : give Milos time (2 years, not 2 weeks). We all know he is, with Dimitrov, one of the best hopes of the new generation. And we all support him whatever the result !
Tomaso
June 30th, 2012 - 16:20

A disappointing result, for Milos and fans. I remember thinking, partway through the first set, “Okay, Sam’s playing his best, Milos is not; good news is that Milos at 90% is still ‘as good as’ Sam at 105%. Maybe he can stay even and win on tie-breaks.” But it didn’t turn out that way: Milos too passive, hitting too many just-plain unforced errors — not the “good” kind of errors that come from trying to make every shot a winner. After the match, the tweet half-revealing: “didn’t go as I hoped” — well, you need to go out and win, Milos, not just hope the other guy is going to hand it to you! And half-mystery: what’s the “lesson” you learned? According to Stephanie Myles it’s humility [link below]. Fair enough; next opportunity to show lesson-learned is Newport, starting July 9, where Milos might well cross paths again with Querrey.

Link: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Milos+Raonic+lesson+humility/6864539/story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+canwest%2FF299+%28The+Gazette+-+Sports%29
- Robert
  July 2nd, 2012 - 17:34
  
  Thanks for the link, interesting by Milos’ quotations. However the big lesson is not humility, Milos always has been so! He is ambitious, in the good meaning of the word, but not proud! No big head, so to speak ! The true lesson is, in my opinion, that he has to find his own way on grass. and, on grass, it is better to follow Sampras than the Spanish school which is good on clay and, by mere exception, on grass. Nadal himself had to learn that last week !
  
  The only thing is that we don’t have that many great grass players nowadays as there are so few tournaments on grass. Let me raise a question : how many grass courts are there in Spain where Milos gets the bulk of his training ? And in Canada ? Now Milos loves grass may be partly because he has followed on TV so many victories by Sampras on grass. He needs to adapt to it !
  
  May be he should ask Sampras some advice ? He needs, in my view, to attack much more and rush to the net more often. His serve is such an asset on grass ! I am sure he can be a great grass player and will win Wimbledon one day ! Go Milos !
Tennis Fan
June 30th, 2012 - 12:22

Way too passive game again from Raonic. He stood way too far behind the baseline at the French and again at Wimbledon. I question his coaching. This guy is a power player … playing like a defensive baseliner. Crazy.

Milos stand closer to/or at the baseline … or find yourself a new coach. I can’t believe the strategy of you game in light of your top 10 skills. Act now … don’t wait! You have to find a bit more of a killer instinct … that is what makes a top 10.
- Robert
  July 2nd, 2012 - 17:21
  
  “This guy is a power player … playing like a defensive baseliner.” I agree 100% ! You can feel Milos is an attacker as his hero, Sampras. However he is tall and it mustn’t be all that easy when the bounce is low which is often the case on grass. But I agree he is too passive and not taking enough risk. Even if it means losing some points, but, at least, fighting. Against Nadal, on grass, Rosol showed the way. No top spin almost, uneffective on grass, but what a game of attack, especially on the fifth set. That’s the way the young players can beat all those base liners we have !
  
  I am sure Milos is going to think about it and will have a fighting spirit at Newport ! Go Milos ! We all are with you !
TOM
June 29th, 2012 - 13:46

Final comment on the Querry match.Very even statistically but I feel Milos has a bigger windup motion on his forehand than Querry and that split extra time can cause errors in windy conditions therefor neutralizing to some extent Milos’s ability to dictate the points the way he would like.That to me was the difference in the match.Take the wind out of the equation and we might have had a different result.
- Robert
  July 2nd, 2012 - 17:56
  
  That may be so, Tom. But a great player has to adapt, as Federer does. And a great player, Milos will be ! Just give him time !
TOM
June 29th, 2012 - 11:51

Good effort for Milos.Could have went either way.Poor conditions but same for both players.
Learn from it and move on in the journey to be the best.
Big O and Rogers coming up.