"I’m still a little bit bitter about it": Raonic still laments Murray Wimbledon final defeat as he returns to SW19 hungry for success

Tennis News
Saturday, 01 July 2023 at 17:00
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Milos Raonic admits he is still 'a little bitter' about losing to Andy Murray at the 2016 Wimbledon final.
Seven years ago, Canadian tennis player Milos Raonic, who has been ranked as high as world No. 3 in the ATP rankings, came within one win of a Grand Slam title. His opponent was British tennis star Andy Murray, who would finish 2016 as world No. 1.
The match was tense, with two sets going to a tiebreak, but in the end, Murray took home the SW19 trophy with a comfortable victory, beating Raonic 6-4, 7-6(7-3), 7-6(7-2).
Being almost ten years ago, it may seem like ancient history to many fans and younger players making a name for themselves today. However, in a recent interview with iNews, Raonic opened up about his lingering bitterness regarding that match, as he prepares to compete in Wimbledon for the final time.
'I still haven't had that chance to enjoy it', Raonic claims, indicating the extent to which the disappointment of losing that day has stayed with him. This may partly stem from the fact that it is his only Grand Slam final to date, and he openly admits, 'It's the closest I've been by far.'
Since then, both himself and Murray have had to contend with serious injuries that have made it difficult for them to regain the incredible heights they achieved at their peak. The biggest physical challenge Raonic has had to face involved multiple tears to his Achilles, which required a long recovery period. As a result, he virtually disappeared from the tennis world for a few years.
Despite these difficulties, Raonic has finally been able to make a short comeback to the sport. Although he had to withdraw from the Queen's Club Championships last month, the 32-year-old still plans to compete one last time at Wimbledon, the National Bank Open in his hometown of Toronto, and the US Open.
His comeback has already seen some success, as he won his first match since his comeback at the 2023 Libema Open s-Hertogenbosch, defeating Miomir Kecmanovic in straight sets.

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