Milos Raonic added John McEnroe to his coaching team to help him put pressure on opponents.
Following his straight-sets French Open fourth-round loss to Albert Ramos-Vinolas today, Raonic said the serve-and-volley stylist can help him finish points moving forward—and contribute to his overall improvement.
Watch: Stan Hits With Ball Kid During Timeout
"I was sort of just looking for another set of eyes to be a bit more efficient on grass, and I think people are seeing it as just plain folks on grass, that's what it's far from," Raonic told the media after his Roland Garros fourth-round loss. "It's about generally improving. I want to improve that coming forward and I want to improve putting more pressure on my opponents."
Raonic won 54 of 83 trips to net (65 percent) toppling former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka the Melbourne fourth round in January. Contesting his second career Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open, Raonic won 50 of 74 net trips (68 percent) bowing to world No. 2 Andy Murray and an abductor strain in a fierce five-set battle.
The ninth-ranked Canadian wants to impose his transition game. Raonic is planning to play Queen's Club next month in preparation for Wimbledon, which will included grass-court practices with McEnroe during a three-week span.
"I feel like I was a lot more efficient at the beginning of the year coming forward, and it's something that I would like to put a lot of attention to and find a way," Raonic said. "And it just works out with grass that's probably the thing that will benefit me the most. And now there is going to be the three weeks leading to Wimbledon that we are going to work, and really put some attention to that and just find that go sort of groove, that efficiency.
"Then other parts of my game, what I can do a bit differently to be better, and it's not just by any means just with the intention of Wimbledon. It's about generally improving."
McEnroe, who briefly served as a coaching consultant for both Boris Becker and Sergi Bruguera, will work with Raonic and his coaches, former No. 1 Carlos Moya and Italian Riccardo Piatti in the lead-up to Wimbledon.
"I'm sure he'll consult throughout Wimbledon, as well, but he has his obligations through Wimbledon. I'll have Carlos there with me, but I'm sure from aside he watches tennis," Raonic said. "At the end of the day he loves tennis. He's going to see matches. I'm sure he'll have some advice to give, and some quality advice to give, as well."
Asked about the variety of voices on his coaching staff, Raonic said ultimately it's up to him to act on their advice.
"Every coach I have is to some extent an advisor, and it is my job personally, out of everything I hear, to weigh what it's worth and weigh what is best for me," Raonic said. "I'm the CEO of the Milos Raonic Tennis. That's it. I take everybody's consultations very personally. I know everybody I have around me wants to help me to the fullest.
"I work very hard, and it's going to be about putting the things together right, and sort of taking those things that I can really do on a day-to-day basis to improve. At the same time, it's not a focus for just Wimbledon. It's John coming along to help me improve in general."
Photo credit: Nicolas Gouhier/FFT