Milos Raonic arrived on the Nationwide Financial institution Open introduced 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 commonly 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 unimaginable, it’s been 20 plus years since Daniel (Nestor) and Sébastien (Lareau) did it, successful gold in doubles”, Raonic stated. “Félix (Auger-Aliassime) actually took on loads enjoying 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 a complete new perspective throughout his second go-around and did his greatest to absorb the ambiance away from the courts and benefit from the alternative another way.
Learn: Auger-Aliassime, Dabrowski Win Olympic Combined Doubles Bronze
Whatever the many historic firsts he achieved that helped put Canada on the tennis map, Raonic isn’t centered on his personal particular person legacy however as a substitute on the expansion of the game as a collective effort.
“All I actually centered on was enjoying the most effective tennis potential and be pretty much as good as I could be and if that had another results, it’s nice if it occurs,” Raonic defined. “It makes a giant distinction if you’re rising up and you may see that as an athlete from that nation you can reach that sport. And now that there are an increasing number of athletes succeeding, you imagine 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 approach 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 similar event the place he turned the primary Canadian to succeed in a Masters 1000 last in 2013.
“I’ve performed a few of my greatest tennis in Montreal,” Raonic stated. “I used to be right here for a couple of years that had been actually pivotal to the event of my profession so it’s at all times a fantastic pleasure to be again.”
It appears solely becoming that the event shall be marked by the celebration of one other landmark second that he performed a task in inspiring, whether or not he desires to confess it or not.
