Milos Raonic arrived on the Nationwide Financial institution Open offered by Rogers from the Paris Olympic Video games the place his compatriots Félix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriela Dabrowski gained Canada’s first tennis medal in 24 years.
The previous world no. 3, who is usually credited with paving the way in which for the present era of Canadian gamers, was stuffed with reward for the historic achievement when he met with the media in Montreal on Sunday.
“I feel it’s unbelievable, it’s been 20 plus years since Daniel (Nestor) and Sébastien (Lareau) did it, profitable gold in doubles”, Raonic stated. “Félix (Auger-Aliassime) actually took on quite a bit taking part in three occasions all through the entire week. I feel it’s only a testomony to the infrastructure of Canadian tennis, the idea of Canadian tennis and the respect for Canadian tennis that has modified during the last decade”
The 33-year-old, who performed in Paris 12 years after his first Olympic expertise in London, had an entire new perspective throughout his second go-around and did his finest to absorb the environment away from the courts and benefit from the alternative another way.
Learn: Auger-Aliassime, Dabrowski Win Olympic Blended Doubles Bronze
Whatever the many historic firsts he achieved that helped put Canada on the tennis map, Raonic isn’t targeted on his personal particular person legacy however as a substitute on the expansion of the game as a collective effort.
“All I actually targeted on was taking part in the very best tennis doable and be pretty much as good as I may be and if that had another results, it’s nice if it occurs,” Raonic defined. “It makes a giant distinction while you’re rising up and you may see that as an athlete from that nation which you can reach that sport. And now that there are increasingly athletes succeeding, you consider within the course of extra. This can be a course of that works, it’s a course of that’s developed nice gamers.”
READ: 5 years later, Milos makes his technique to Montréal
Talking of the method, for the primary time in 5 years, Raonic will play on the identical IGA Stadium courts the place he honed his craft as a promising junior at Tennis Canada’s Nationwide Tennis Centre and on the identical event the place he turned the primary Canadian to achieve a Masters 1000 closing in 2013.
“I’ve performed a few of my finest tennis in Montreal,” Raonic stated. “I used to be right here for a number of years that have been actually pivotal to the event of my profession so it’s at all times a terrific pleasure to be again.”
It appears solely becoming that the event will likely be marked by the celebration of one other landmark second that he performed a task in inspiring, whether or not he needs to confess it or not.
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