Milos Raonic still has "same inner fire" despite difficult 2019 season

Milos Raonic is surprised to be back on court again during what he's dubbed a year to forget.

The Canadian was frequently injured this season, and hadn't even expected to be playing the European indoor events.

"When I finished Laver Cup, I discovered that I had a torn adductor and I did not think I could play another match this year," he told Belgian newspaper DH. "I was two days from going on vacation, but I tried another type of treatment, and I recovered better than I expected."

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Raonic fell in the first round of Vienna, but won his Rolex Paris Masters opener over Cameron Norrie on Monday. He's frustrated, but still eager to play.

"I will try forget about this season and focus on what I can improve for next season," he said. "I still have the same inner fire, even if sometimes I have to find it again, when I'm stuck at home not knowing when I can play again, or if I get up and it hurts somewhere. What counts for me is that I can train, am free to do my normal preparation, and come back on the circuit."

Raonic, who has changed coaches frequently, has now brought on Mario Tudor. "I've changed my entire team during the season, I'm not working with [Fabrice] Santoro any more," he said.

The 28-year-old is No. 32 in the rankings and will face last week's Vienna champion Dominic Thiem in Paris on Wednesday.