Canadian tennis star Milos Raonic has officially announced his retirement from professional tennis at the age of 35, bringing the curtain down on a career that spanned nearly two decades.
A Career of Highs and Persistent Injury Struggles
Raonic enjoyed an impressive run on the ATP Tour, securing eight singles titles across his career. His peak came in 2016, when he achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 3. That landmark year saw him reach the final of Wimbledon, where he was defeated by Britain's Andy Murray, and the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
However, the latter stages of his time on tour were dominated by fitness issues. A particularly severe foot and Achilles tendon injury kept him away from competitive play for over two years. He made a brief return to represent Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics before deciding the time was right to step away for good.
Raonic's Emotional Farewell Statement
Announcing his decision on social media, Raonic wrote: 'The time has come, I am retiring from tennis.' He described it as a moment he knew would arrive but for which he never felt fully prepared.
'Tennis has been my love and obsession for most of my life,' he continued. 'I have been the luckiest person to get to live out and fulfill my dreams. I got to show up every day and focus on just getting better... playing a game I was introduced to at 8 years old by complete luck.'
In his lengthy post, Raonic extended heartfelt thanks to the fans who supported him globally, his coaches and team for their sacrifices, and the governing bodies of the sport, including the ATP tour and the Grand Slams.
Looking Ahead: 'I Will Not Slow Down'
The former Wimbledon finalist also cast an eye to the future, signalling that his retirement from tennis does not mean an end to his driven mindset. 'What's next?' he asked. 'There is so much more life to live, and I am as motivated and hungry as I was in 2011, when I broke through on tour.'
He vowed to apply the same intensity to his next chapter, stating: 'I will put the same effort and intensity into the next thing. If I can pursue the same excellence as I did with my tennis, just trying to be better every day, and let’s see where it takes me.' This suggests the Canadian's competitive spirit will simply be channelled into a new endeavour.
Raonic's retirement marks the end of an era for Canadian tennis, closing the book on the career of one of the nation's most successful and influential players, renowned for his formidable serve and powerful baseline game.
