Raonic Pleased with Post-Injury Progress at Indian Wells

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Raonic Pleased with Post-Injury Progress at Indian Wells

It appears that Milos Raonic is picking up right where he left off at this year’s Australian Open. The hard-serving Canadian, who was a set from reaching his first career Grand Slam final in Melbourne this January, needed a month off to heal an adductor injury, but here in the desert he’s playing as if he hasn’t skipped a beat.

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“Yeah, would I expect that I was going play like this sort of after everything that's been going on the last few weeks? Definitely not,” Raonic told reporters after his victory over Tomas Berdych on Wednesday at Indian Wells.

The Canadian, who has already earned wins over Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka this season, is already 6-1 vs. the Top-20 and 12-1 overall this season. He feels he’s a far better player today than he was this time last year, and he’ll put that theory to the test on Thursday at Indian Wells when he meets Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals.

“I think I'm just a better player for where my level was at then,” he said. “I think I was playing better then probably relative to my level. I think I have significantly improved over time. I think I can do more if I keep getting better with each match.”

With Carlos Moya added to his coaching team, Raonic says he’s improved his game tactically, and he’s starting to impose himself on his opponents at the net more than he ever did before.

Though Moya is not full-time with the Canadian, Raonic says he messages daily with the former world No. 1 and he told reporters that his two-coach team is on the same page in terms of how to keep developing the Raonic playbook.

It’s a process, says Raonic. And it should help him find a way back to the Top-10 in the not too distant future.

“A mental thing, understanding, moving forward,” Raonic said. “I'm pretty efficient at the net now. I cover the angles I'm supposed to cover. I make the volleys I'm supposed to make. When I'm sharp with myself, I put that pressure on my opponents. I do more different things. I make a lot more returns. I move better on the returns, so even if I don't make it I get my racquet on it at least.”

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