Milos Raonic wants to keep making small mental and physical adjustments as he looks to reach the very top of the men's game.
The 26-year-old Canadian finished the 2016 season at a career-high No. 3 and reached his first Grand Slam final, but had frequent injury problems and appeared to be affected by nerves at some events.
He suggested that he is pacing himself more than a year ago, when he reached the Australian Open semifinals but got injured against Andy Murray.
"I was desperate to play the highest level of tennis right away,” he told reporters at the Abu Dhabi exhibition, “but this year it’s been more a case of understanding where my game is at.”
He also fell to Murray in the Wimbledon final, and finished the season by dropping two tiebreakers to the world No. 1 at the ATP Tour Finals. His next goal is to play better in big moments.
"I think it’s just about finding the balance," said the big-serving Raonic, who has been concentrating on his volleying and on imposing his game against opponents. "It comes down to doing things at important moments in Grand Slams, and I have to apply them as much as I can ... I just think I need to be more mentally strong, at some points."
Raonic is also looking to make physical improvements, particularly to avoid more injuries.
“I have changed around the way I prepare—even just the way I split my time,” he said. “I try to not do really anything that’s pounding on my lower body over the training period, other than when I am on the court. That’s one big thing we have focused a lot on."
The training changes are designed to "just take some pressure off my joints," he said.
"These kinds of differences is where the tension has gone,” he said, “and I feel much better."
Raonic, who was previously coached by Carlos Moya, has begun working with Richard Krajicek.