Milos Raonic, Spin Doctor

News

Scores

Rankings

Lucky Letcord Podcast

Shop

Pro Gear

Pickleball

Gear Sale

Popular This Week

Casper Ruud and Maria Galligana Are Engaged

Love Match: Madison Keys Marries Bjorn Fratangelo

WTA Awards Nominees for 2024

ITF President Haggerty: Davis Cup Won't Return to Be...

ATP Award Nominees Announced for 2024

Sinner's Extraordinary 2024, By the Numbers

Bob Bryan on U.S. Davis Cup Doubles Decision

Milos Raonic took care of business on Day 9, knocking off the last American man standing on No.1 Court to reach his second career semifinal.

Watch: Federer's Hot Shot Backhand Sails Past Cilic

His 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 win was more vivid proof of his maturation as an attacking player, and his big match potential.

Raonic was a revelation at the net, winning 31 of 42 serve and volley points and 35 of 47 net points overall. None were better than this piece of haphazard wizardry by the big Canadian (see video above).

Watch as a lunge volley by the maple leaf missile bounces on both sides of the net before coming to rest on the grass. Point, Raonic, match Raonic.

Happiness, fans.

Many have credited Raonic’s partnership with John McEnroe for his recent upgrades at net, but don’t be so quick to credit McNasty for everything Raonic has done at the net at Wimbledon. The 25-year-old had long ago made his intentions of being a more aggressive net player clear. His improved net game was on display in Australia when he came within a set of reaching his first Grand Slam final. That said, six months later, with McEnroe owning a small percentage of Raonic’s ear, the progress continues.

Raonic spoke about that on Wednesday after defeating Querrey to set up a rematch of the 2014 Wimbledon semifinal with Roger Federer.

Has McEnroe helped with his net game and his aggressive tactics?

“Yeah, he definitely has,” Raonic said. “That was a part of the motivation to bring him along to help, was to improve that aspect of how much I can implement it in my game and how to use it and what the right moments are. I was efficient with it today. Other than those three games [in the third set when he was broken and eventually lost the set], I think I had a very good percentage when I was coming in. So I'm proud of that.”

He added: “I saw [Querrey] was standing pretty far back on the return. If I take something off my serve, it allows me to get closer. I think that's why, yes, I made a few good volleys, but most of them were pretty routine volleys. I was always in a good position. I wasn't sure where he was going to stand. But when I saw where he was standing, it sort of allowed me to sort of get myself closer and be in a better position when I was hitting the volleys.”

Whether or not Raonic serves and volleys as much against Federer on Friday remains to be seen, and it’s really not important. But the fact that he’s comfortable using these tactics intuitively against players that are staying back on return is a step in the right direction.

And if he can create more spin wizardry like he did on this point, all the better.

Posted: