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Apr/12

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Biofile Milos Raonic Interview

By Scoop Malinowski

Status: Former ATP no. 3 in 2016. Currently ranked 545. Winner of eight career ATP singles titles.

DOB: December 27, 1990     In: Podogorica, Montenegro  

Ht:  6-5 Wt:  216

First Tennis Memory: A lot of time with the ball machine. I think that’s how I started out, mostly. That’s where I started to get my level up. And my dad (Dusan) was there picking up the balls and I’d be just standing and hitting tennis balls non-stop.

Tennis Inspirations: Pete Sampras, by far the biggest one. Spent many hours watching his matches. Not just once, twice, three, four times. And sort of he was the inspiration who taught me to work so hard on the serve.

First Famous Tennis Player You Met: Tommy Haas, I think. I probably embarrassed myself [smiles]. I think I had a photo with him and Nick Bollettieri, and I saying, Tommy, we’ve met before, we’ve met before. Will you please sign my picture? I remember that. Probably not Tommy [smiles].

Greatest Sports Moment: Winning San Jose and then defending it. First title and then able to back it up is amazing.

Most Painful Moment: The pain you feel when you make that slip and when you realize how long you’re going to be out for during Wimbledon.

Funny Tennis Memory: There’s a lot of things that happen but I can’t point out one thing. But being in the locker room with… there’s some really special characters on the Tour. And guys that make this Tour and being on it for so many, it’s fun. (Which players come to mind on that?) Djokovic is a funny guy, got a great personality. There’s many guys like him that sort of bring up the energy in the locker room [smiles].

Strangest Match: One time I think I was playing a Challenger against a guy in the top 200. The guy was obviously better than me but I was sort of sticking with him and I had 40-love serving. And a guy off the court fainted on the side. Paramedics had to come. Took almost 15 minutes. We stopped. And I don’t think I won a game after that. I think it was 4-all and I lost 6-4 6-0. (Where?) Granby. I got a wildcard into main draw.

Closest Tennis Friends: Coach and Almagro.

Favorite Players To Watch: I’ll watch probably the finals of most tournaments. Probably Djokovic. I enjoy watching Federer, Nadal, Soderling, probably all the guys in the top 10.

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: Most embarrassing… I don’t know… Lost 0 and 0 in juniors. It was a long time ago. Maybe under 12s. Somewhere in Europe I think.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Strawberry.

Favorite Meal: Steak before match.

Favorite Sports Outside Tennis: Basketball.

Current Car: My parents Honda Civic.

People Qualities Most Admired: Honesty. People that are genuine. People that are caring. And people that just go and take care of the common courtesies. When you walk by them in the locker room and I’ll say Hi and all these kinds of things. Because you see them so many times a day. You don’t just want to be walking cold shoulder by a lot of people. I think this is one of the most important things on the Tour.

You can read more of Scoop’s Biofiles at his Biofile site 

 

 

  

 

 

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4 comments

  • Thomas Tung · May 2, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    Milos’ response to the “People Qualities Most Admired” was great; shows that he thinks with his heart as well as his head. Makes for good relations with other players, and (also) doesn’t give them emotional ammo on the court against you. Kind of why Connors had problems dealing with Borg as their rivalry went on — hard to hate the guy who is low-key and treats everyone well, including yourself, even (especially) when you can can be a jerk …

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 2, 2012 at 2:13 pm

    Thomas, No doubt Raonic is extremely smart in many ways. He’s also a true champion. Very very wise beyond his years. Good point about “ammon on the court to use against you.” Tood Woodbridge told me that Marcelo Rios’ attitude made the other ATP players really want to kick his butt on the court. Rios gave them extra incentive. I always remember Evander Holyfield saying he never spoke badly about an opponent because he never wanted to give them any extra incentive. Obviously, Muhammad Ali had a difference of opinion )

  • Andrew Miller · May 3, 2012 at 1:56 am

    Wow Scoop I never thought of it that way. That the players can make another player’s life on tour heaven or hell and how much control a player has on how they’re perceived. No wonder no one made it easy on Rios – Rios wasn’t easy on them, they repaid the favor two fold.

    Raonic, got to say I like his tennis. I think he really has it. His 2011 was auspicious. His 2012 hasn’t really much begun – some good results.

  • Scoop Malinowski · May 3, 2012 at 1:21 pm

    Andrew, I never did either until Woodbridge explained it. He said the players all got super amped up to beat Rios because most of them disliked his disrespectful behavior and attitude towards them. This most likely factored into hastening the demise of Rios I would think. But Rios was so good that he was able to overcome it for a short while and dominate in 98 and become #1 despite. Raonic is very smart player and person and will not have this problem. Federer and Nadal also are very smart and did not ever create angst against them from other players.

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