Milos Raonic embraces "servebot" moniker on 'Second Serve'

Milos Raonic is unequivocally the most accomplished men’s singles player in Canadian history. He’s won 383 matches, eight titles, and reached a the final of Wimbledon in 2016. But the injuries have taken their toll on his 6'5" frame, and his career is reaching the final stanza. Raonic is still committed, but realistic about his future on the court.

On Tennis Channel 2’s Second Serve, the man with one of the greatest serves in tennis history showcased another skill. Flanked by Tracy Austin, Nick Monroe, Sloane Stephens, and host Geoff Chizever, Raonic proved he was a reputable voice in the game, discussing a variety of topics with the same pinpoint precision he showed on the court.

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Raonic didn't get to hoist the trophy at the All England Club in 2016, but he still looks back fondly on that fortnight. The Canadian notched a thrilling come-from-behind win over Roger Federer in the semifinals and played three tight sets against Andy Murray in the final.

Upon further reflection, the Canadian is even more proud of what he accomplished because of who he faced.

“Icons of the sport, people I’ve always looked up to,” Raonic said of his opponents at Wimbledon. “You try to almost mimic what they’re doing because they are the ones pushing the limits, bringing the best out of themselves but in turn, making everybody on tour have to push to new heights.

“I know that leaving those two weeks, I was a better player because of it.”

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One of the other legends of Raonic’s era is Novak Djokovic, a player who is feeling his aura of invincibility weaken in 2025. It’s hard for any athlete to relate to the level of excellence Djokovic achieved, but Raonic understands firsthand how quickly eras can shift in tennis. The fluctuations aren't rare for Djokovic, he pointed out, but it will still require a great deal of work to right the ship.

“Before it seemed like such an obvious formula that Novak had figured out how to get back quickly every time. And I think the biggest thing is, once you get older, you just don’t respond as quickly,” Raonic explained. “He’ll figure it out. He’s the one that’s pushed tennis in this generation more than anybody else.”

Nobody has made a career off just the forehand, or just volleys, or just the backhand. But the serve can have this incredible impact. And I think it’s a shame to not focus on it. Milos Raonic on Second Serve

Raonic knows what his calling card is, and was proud to embrace the “servebot” monikor when Sloane Stephens asked him about it. It’s the weapon that allowed him to have success against the best in the game, and it’s a shot he doesn’t think gets enough priority among young players.

“I think some players don’t want to be called that, but I’m very well aware of what’s made a career for me," he explained. "My tennis story would be very different without my serve.

“It’s the only shot that you can really make a career of tennis from in this game. Nobody has made a career off just the forehand, or just volleys, or just the backhand. But the serve can have this incredible impact. And I think it’s a shame to not focus on it.”

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Raonic covered a lot of ground during his appearance on Second Serve, discussing how his training methods have evolved with age, his proudest moments on the court, and why ankle socks might be his best superstition to date. Raonic says he hopes to return at 's-Hertogenbosch, beginning what could ultimately be the final chapter in a groundbreaking career.

In any event, Raonic proved that he has a place in the game for years to come, and he’s a voice that every tennis player and fan should listen to.