After an absence from the ATP Tour since July 2021, Milos Raonic is set to make his official comeback. Throughout his career, the Canadian has been plagued by injuries, but the most recent setback halted his efforts for nearly two years.
Raonic first burst onto the scene in 2011, breaking into the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings and finishing the season as the world No. 31. His career flourished, with each season until 2016 concluding with him in the Top 15, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 3.
However, the following season marked the beginning of Raonic’s injury struggles. Forced to withdraw from multiple tournaments, he ended the year outside the Top 20, leading to a rollercoaster journey for the Canadian.
Raonic’s last professional season on the ATP Tour was in 2021, where he competed in 12 matches, winning seven of them. Unfortunately, his final match at the 2021 Atlanta Open ended in a three-set loss to Brandon Nakashima.
Speculation about the 32-year-old’s return had been circulating for some time, but now it has been confirmed as he appears on the entry list for the 2024 Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, which is expected to be his first event back.
It comes as no surprise that Raonic has chosen the grass-court season for his comeback, as it has historically been one of his stronger surfaces and where he has enjoyed significant success throughout his career. In 2016, he reached the Wimbledon final, narrowly losing to Andy Murray in three sets.
Raonic also reached two more quarterfinals at the All England Club and will aim to replicate that feat this year. However, the challenges he may face in returning to his best form remain uncertain.
The recent experiences of Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem have shown that it can be difficult to make a successful comeback after an extended period away from the game. Nonetheless, both Murray and Thiem have shown promising signs of progress, offering hope to not only their fans but also supporters of the towering Canadian.
