Milos Raonic

Early Life and Immigration

Milos Raonic was born on December 27, 1990, in Titograd, SFR Yugoslavia, which is now Podgorica, Montenegro. His family is of Serb ethnic descent. In 1994, when Raonic was three years old, his parents Dušan and Vesna, both engineers, moved the family to Canada, seeking safety from the ethnic conflicts of the Yugoslav Wars and greater professional opportunities. They settled in Brampton, Ontario, before later moving to Thornhill. Raonic has two older siblings, a sister named Jelena and a brother named Momir. His uncle, Branimir Gvozdenović, is a politician in Montenegro who has served as Deputy Prime Minister. Raonic's first exposure to tennis came at age six or seven during a week-long camp at the Bramalea Tennis Club. His serious training began around age eight under coach Casey Curtis at the Blackmore Tennis Club in Richmond Hill, Ontario, where he demonstrated exceptional commitment by practising early mornings and late nights with a ball machine. To accommodate his training, Raonic accelerated his studies at Thornhill Secondary School, graduating a year early with an 82 percent average before moving to Montreal in late 2007 to train at Tennis Canada's new National Tennis Centre.

Amateur and Junior Career

Raonic began competing on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Circuit in October 2003 at age 12. His first notable result was reaching the doubles final at the Benjamin Open in Bordeaux, France, with partner Cameron Chiang. He won his first junior singles and doubles titles at the same Grade 4 tournament in October 2006. In doubles, he found significant success with fellow Canadian Vasek Pospisil, partnering with him at several events including the 2008 French Open, where they reached the semifinals. Raonic also partnered with American Bradley Klahn to win two Grade 1 junior doubles titles in 2008. Over five years on the junior circuit, he compiled a 53-30 singles record and a 56-24 doubles record. His career-high combined junior ranking was No. 35. Concurrently, he began playing professional circuit events as an amateur, winning his first professional main draw match at an ITF Futures tournament in Gatineau, Quebec, in March 2007 against Fabrice Martin, earning his first world ranking of No. 1518. He received a wildcard into the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Canadian Open, marking his first ATP World Tour match, a loss to Alexander Kudryavtsev. In the summer of 2008, Raonic turned down a scholarship to the University of Virginia to pursue a professional career, setting a two-year goal to break into the world's top 100 while planning to take correspondence courses in finance from Athabasca University.

Professional Breakthrough and Rise (2008 to 2012)

After turning professional in September 2008, Raonic honed his game primarily on the ITF Futures and ATP Challenger tours, winning his first ITF Futures singles title in Montreal in March 2009. He added three more Futures singles titles and five doubles titles over 2009 and 2010. His first ATP Challenger title came in doubles at the Men's Rimouski Challenger in November 2008, again with Vasek Pospisil. His first major breakthrough on the ATP Tour came at the 2011 Australian Open, where he qualified for the main draw and reached the fourth round, defeating top-10 player Mikhail Youzhny along the way to become the first qualifier to reach the fourth round of a major since 1999. Just three weeks later, he won his first ATP title at the Pacific Coast Championships in San Jose, becoming the first player born in the 1990s to win an ATP title and the first Canadian man to win an ATP singles title since Greg Rusedski in 1995. This rapid ascent earned him the 2011 ATP Newcomer of the Year award. In 2012, he defended his San Jose title and won the Chennai Open, where he did not drop serve throughout the entire tournament, a feat last achieved by Roger Federer at the 2008 Halle Open. That year, he also recorded his first victory over a member of the 'Big Four', defeating Andy Murray at the Barcelona Open, and reached his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinals in Toronto and Cincinnati. By August 2012, he had broken into the world's top 20, reaching No. 19. He also reached the fourth round of the US Open that year, the first Canadian man to do so since 1988.

Peak Performance and Grand Slam Success (2013 to 2016)

The period from 2013 to 2016 marked the peak of Raonic's career, characterized by consistent deep runs at major tournaments and a climb to the highest echelons of the sport. He won two more titles in 2013, including a third consecutive San Jose crown, and reached the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Montreal. In 2014, he won his first ATP 500 title in Washington and achieved major Grand Slam breakthroughs, reaching the quarterfinals at the French Open and his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon. He received the Lionel Conacher Award as Canada's top male athlete in both 2013 and 2014. The 2016 season was his most successful. He started by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open. That summer at Wimbledon, he defeated Roger Federer in a five-set semifinal to become the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final, where he lost in straight sets to Andy Murray. This result helped propel him to a career-high world No. 3 ranking in November 2016, behind only Murray and Novak Djokovic. During this peak period, Raonic also made history as the first Canadian man in the Open Era to reach the Australian Open semifinals and the French Open quarterfinals, complementing his Wimbledon final.

Injury Challenges and Later Career (2017 to 2026)

Injuries began to significantly impact Raonic's career from 2017 onward. That season was the first since 2011 in which he did not win an ATP title, and his ranking fell outside the top 20. He had a resurgence in 2018, reaching the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters, his first Masters 1000 semifinal since late 2016. He reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2020 for the fifth time in his career and made his fourth career Masters 1000 final in Cincinnati later that year. A series of injuries then led to an extended absence from the tour. He did not play a match between July 2021 and June 2023. Upon his return in June 2024, he set a tennis record by hitting 47 aces in a best-of-three sets match at the Queen's Club tournament. His final professional matches were at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Paris, where he competed in both singles and doubles, partnering with Félix Auger-Aliassime in the latter. Raonic officially announced his retirement from professional tennis on January 12, 2026, stating, "The time has come, I am retiring from tennis. This is a moment you know will come one day, but somehow you never feel ready for it."

Playing Style and Legacy

Milos Raonic's game was built around one of the most formidable serves in tennis history, both in terms of power and statistical effectiveness. He is ranked third in the Open Era for service games won at 91 percent. All eight of his ATP singles titles were won on hardcourts. Raonic's career winning percentage of 68 percent is among the highest for players of his era. His legacy in Canadian sports is significant. He was a trailblazer who demonstrated that Canadian men could compete at the very top of world tennis, inspiring a generation of players. His historic runs at Grand Slam tournaments, particularly the 2016 Wimbledon final, and his peak ranking of world No. 3 remain benchmark achievements for Canadian tennis. He was the first player born in the 1990s to be ranked in the top 10 and to qualify for the ATP Finals.

Career Statistics and Highlights

Milos Raonic's career is defined by several key statistical achievements and tournament results. He finished his career with eight ATP Tour singles titles and reached a total of 19 finals. His best Grand Slam performances were a runner-up finish at Wimbledon in 2016, semifinals at the 2014 Wimbledon and 2016 Australian Open, and a quarterfinal at the 2014 French Open. He was a four-time quarterfinalist at the Australian Open. In Masters 1000 events, he reached four finals. Raonic represented Canada in Davis Cup competition from 2010 to 2023, helping the team reach the semifinals in 2013 and the quarterfinals of the Finals in 2023. He competed in three Olympic Games, making his debut in 2012 where he lost a record-setting 66-game, three-set match to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and his last appearance in 2024. His career prize money totalled US $20,764,512. His ATP singles titles are as follows: 2011 San Jose (ATP 250), 2012 Chennai (ATP 250) and San Jose (ATP 250), 2013 San Jose (ATP 250) and Bangkok (ATP 250), 2014 Washington (ATP 500), 2015 St. Petersburg (ATP 250), and 2016 Brisbane (ATP 250). Raonic also held several notable records. He was the first player born in the 1990s to win an ATP title. In 2012, he and Vasek Pospisil won a first-round doubles match at the Canadian Open against the world's top two ranked players, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the first time the top two had played doubles together since 1976.

Personal Life and Philanthropy

Outside of tennis, Raonic is known for his diverse interests and charitable work. He is a passionate sports fan, supporting FC Barcelona, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Toronto Raptors. He participated in the 2016 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Toronto. Raonic founded the Milos Raonic Foundation in 2012, which aims to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds by removing economic, physical, and social barriers to help them become healthy, productive members of society. He worked briefly as an analyst for Rogers Sportsnet during their broadcast of the 2011 Canadian Open while recovering from injury. In November 2011, he won an exhibition match against his childhood idol, Pete Sampras. Raonic took up residence in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in 2012, living in an apartment near the Monte Carlo Country Club. He was in a relationship with Canadian model Danielle Knudson and married Belgian model Camille Ringoir in Italy in April 2022. He is fluent in both English and Serbian.

Olympic and Davis Cup Participation

Milos Raonic represented Canada in international team competitions throughout his career. He made his Olympic debut at the London 2012 Games, where he lost in the second round in an epic match against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. That match lasted 3 hours and 57 minutes, set a record for most games played (66) in a three-set Olympic match, and featured a 48-game third set won 25-23 by Tsonga. Raonic's final Olympic appearance was at the Paris 2024 Games, where he lost in the first round of both singles and doubles. In Davis Cup, Raonic played for Canada from 2010 to 2023. His participation helped the team achieve several milestones. Key Davis Cup results include reaching the semifinals in 2013, the World Group playoff in 2014, and the quarterfinals of the Finals in 2023. His commitment to national team play was a consistent feature of his career, contributing to the growth and visibility of tennis in Canada.

Questions about Milos Raonic

What was Milos Raonic's highest world ranking?

Milos Raonic achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3 in November 2016. This remains the highest ranking ever attained by a Canadian tennis player, male or female, in the history of the ATP or WTA tours. He reached this peak following his runner-up finish at the Wimbledon Championships earlier that year.

What awards did Milos Raonic receive?

Milos Raonic received several major awards throughout his career. He was voted the ATP Newcomer of the Year by his fellow players in 2011 following his breakthrough season. He won the Lionel Conacher Award as Canada's top male athlete in both 2013 and 2014. He is also an inductee of the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to sport.

When did Milos Raonic retire from professional tennis?

Milos Raonic retired from professional tennis in 2026. He announced his retirement on January 12, 2026, after a career that saw him reach a career high of world number three. He played his last professional match at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games. His retirement was formally announced on the ATP Tour, with the Canadian acknowledging that while the moment was inevitable, it was difficult to feel fully ready for it.

How many ATP titles did Milos Raonic win?

Milos Raonic won eight ATP Tour singles titles during his career. All of these titles were won on hardcourts. His first title came at the 2011 Pacific Coast Championships, where he became the first player born in the 1990s to win an ATP title. He successfully defended a title for the first time by winning the Pacific Coast Championships again in 2012. Another notable victory came at the 2012 Chennai Open, where he did not drop his serve throughout the entire tournament.

Did Milos Raonic win a Grand Slam tournament?

No, Milos Raonic did not win a Grand Slam singles title. His best result was reaching the final of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, where he was the first Canadian man in the Open Era to achieve this. He also reached two other major semifinals at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships and the 2016 Australian Open. He was the first Canadian man to reach the Australian Open semifinals and the French Open quarterfinals in the Open Era.

Why is Milos Raonic's serve considered so famous?

Milos Raonic's serve is considered one of the best in the Open Era due to its power and statistical dominance. He was frequently described as having one of the best serves among his contemporaries. Statistically, he ranks third in the Open Era for percentage of service games won, at 91 percent. This powerful serve was the foundation of his all court style, allowing him to emphasize short points and control matches. It was a key factor in his rise to a career high ranking of world number three.

Sources and further reading

• Milos Raonic (Wikipedia)
• Milos Raonic, Team Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee (olympic.ca)
• Milos Raonic (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-24.