2015 Preview: ATP No. 8, Milos Raonic

If you want a definition of incremental improvement, look no further than Milos Raonic. The male leader of the Canadian tennis boom has added one upgrade after another to an already potent game, slowly working his way to the career-high ranking of No. 6 he hit last July. But that wasn’t his true apex, despite what the ATP computer spit out. That came in October in Bercy, when he faced Roger Federer. Needing a win to reach the World Tour Finals, Raonic crafted a straight-sets triumph over the world No. 2, who himself needed the win to maintain a realistic shot of ending the year at No. 1.

Whether Raonic can reach such heights remains to be seen, but he’s trending upward. Demonstrating consistency on all surfaces—a tribute to an increasingly judicious use of his booming serve and vicious inside-out forehand—Raonic has improved his movement and also shored up his backhand, no longer leery of using it to go down the line.

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There’s really nowhere left for Raonic to go other than up on the dais where they present the winner and runner-up trophies. Despite his outstanding consistency, he still has some trouble closing the deal at tournaments, but his performance in the majors suggests he’s becoming accustomed to life near, if not at, the top.

Although the sleeve Raonic wears is precautionary, the care he takes to keep that arm warm and live underscores the degree to which he relies on his massive serve. Raonic was one of only two men to crack over 1,000 aces in 2014. If his serving efficiency diminishes, his entire game will suffer.

Raonic’s coaches, Ivan Ljubicic and Riccardo Piatti, have done excellent work in turning a sometimes gentle giant into an aggressive one. With a little more confidence and perhaps a bit more work on his backhand and return, Raonic could join the Grand Slam champion’s club.

For more 2015 season previews, click here.