Clay perfect preparation for grass, says Raonic

Canada’s Milos Raonic says he is in great shape mentally thanks to the clay court season as he prepares to try and go one better than last year at the grass court tournaments of Queen’s and Wimbledon. The 26-year-old big serving Canadian, runner-up to British star Andy Murray at both Queen’s and then Wimbledon in 2016, told The Times he feels even better having recovered from a hamstring injury which he said had been “exhausting mentally”. “Since I have started playing well on grass, the one thing I’ve accepted is that I won’t play my best tennis (on the surface),” said Raonic ahead Queen’s which gets underway on Monday. “I’m excited to get out on the grass. It’s where I can succeed and have great results, hopefully this year and in many years to come. “One thing that does wonders for me leading up to the grass is how much more I have to put myself through mentally on the clay. —AFP