Milos Raonic is close to adding former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek to his coaching team, according to the London Times.
Here’s what the Times said about the connection between Raonic and the 45-year-old Dutchman:
“Milos Raonic is set to appoint Richard Krajicek, the 1996 Wimbledon champion, as his new coach. Raonic has lined up Krajicek to replace Spaniard Carlos Moyá, who parted company with the world No 3 last month. The pair will meet this week to finalise arrangements for the season.
Raonic had previously approached Krajicek, the former world No 4, to help him out during the grass-court season this year but terms could not be agreed. Raonic then turned to John McEnroe, who helped him to reach finals at Wimbledon and Queen’s Club.”
Raonic reached his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon with Carlos Moya and John McEnroe as a part of his coaching team. Raonic and Moya parted ways this autumn (Moya has since signed on to work with Rafael Nadal), while Raonic and McEnroe’s relationship seemed to hampered by McEnroe’s conficts of interests. The seven-time Grand Slam champion came under fire at Wimbledon for commentating Raonic’s final with Andy Murray and he announced before the U.S. Open, in rather vague terms, that the pair would not be working together anymore.
“There’s been a discussion obviously,” McEnroe said at the time in a conference call, when asked by Richard Sandomir of the New York Times. “I think it’s best and easiest that at this point, at the end this week, having thought about it and for Milos’ sake and for ESPN and my sake I think it’s best that we stop right now doing what we’re doing so when the U.S. Open starts on Monday… It’s best to sort of separate it at this stage and to me it will just make life easier for everyone.”
McEnroe added that it would be best to avoid coaching any player during Grand Slams, where he is ESPN’s lead commentator. But he did not rule out continuing relations with Raonic, whom he sites as a good friend.
McEnroe was seen in Raonic’s box during the World Tour Finals at London in November.
The addition of Krajicek, if confirmed, should likely push McEnroe out of the mix, but there has been no official word.