Raonic, Team Canada ready for next Davis Cup showdown
HALIFAX — Canada’s top men’s tennis player says he’s physically ready for this weekend’s crucial Davis Cup playoff against Colombia following a taxing run at the U.S. Open.
Milos Raonic, who is the No. 7-ranked singles player in the world, is expected to lead Canada’s push to remain part of the elite World Group beginning Friday in Halifax.
Raonic will take to the court after his fourth-round exit last week in New York, losing a four-hour, 19 minute match in oppressive heat to tournament finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan.
“The body’s good, I’m just hungry to get back into competing,” Raonic said on Tuesday.
Injuries to Raonic and teammate Vasek Pospisil contributed to Canada’s 4-1 loss in February’s first-round tie with Japan but Raonic said a lot has changed since the last time he wore the country’s colours in competition.
“I’ve been able to keep getting better … and I just look forward to ending the year on as strong a note as possible,” he said.
In addition to Raonic and Pospisil, the eighth-ranked Canadian team includes veterans Daniel Nestor and Frank Dancevic.
Team captain Martin Laurendeau said he expects the favoured Canadians to encounter stiff opposition from the “hungry” Colombians who are ranked 26th in the world.
He said Colombia has depth in singles and features a good doubles team coming off a recent tournament win in Winston-Salem, N.C.
“They’re going to come after us and try to make their own history,” said Laurendeau.