From superb return to withdrawal as Raonic out of Cincinnati Open

Canada’s tennis star Milos Raonic has withdrawn from the upcoming Western & Southern Cincinnati Open.

The 32-year-old has struggled with fitness concerns over the years, which has also halted his progress.

Raonic, after suffering a defeat in the Omnium Banque Nationale Canadian Open’s round of 16 to America’s Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-3, is likely to not take part in any events before the upcoming US Open in order to avoid any potential injuries.

Earlier on Thursday, Raonic announced that he might’ve played his last game in Toronto.

“It’s one of the most meaningful things,” he said after the defeat. “I think it’s — I don’t know. I didn’t really get a glimpse of it. I got the sense of it just through the noise. And I think it’s probably the most special and endearing thing about these three matches, from Monday night to yesterday to today, through the ups and downs of it all, that energy that you can’t, like, quantify in any way or you can’t put a name to it.

But it just — you know, you can kind of just like close your eyes and wish you were kind of in that same scenario many times over. But I’m extremely grateful for that. And, you know, all the ups and downs over the last months and years, that makes it worth it far and beyond."

Raonic will be hoping that the upcoming break will be able to help him in registering his best performance in New York where the last Grand Slam of the year will begin in less than 20 days’ time.

The Titograd-born has a very average record while playing in the US Open where he has never qualified for the quarterfinal or beyond despite taking part eight times in the competition.