Rivard: Milos’ last hurrah? – Tennis Canada

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Has Milos Raonic performed his final match?

After all, solely he is aware of. And naturally, we’d like to see the Missile on the courts for a couple of extra years, however at Davis Cup, Milos was open about the truth that he doesn’t have that many matches left in him.

Was his sudden showdown in Malaga his final hurrah? Was the competitors at which he as soon as led the cost for Canada with out ever elevating the silver bowl his swan music?

Used proverbially way back to historic Greece, swan music is a metaphor for a closing gesture, effort or efficiency. And what higher technique to bid farewell to professional tennis than by etching his title on the game’s most prestigious crown—one which Canada fought to win for the second yr in a row?

When the Canadian No. 1 Félix Auger-Aliassime referred to as in sick, Raonic was the shock visitor in the squad’s first match against Finland.

It was an amazing begin that obtained even higher when Milos took on the World No. 782 after Finnish No. 1 Emil Ruusuvuori additionally bowed out of the match.

Had the tennis gods devised a dream situation for Milos?

The Canadian got here out in full power, clocking 4 aces within the opening recreation. It took him 69 minutes to get rid of Patrick Kaukovalta (6-3, 7-5).

Would the reservist find yourself taking part in the hero?

Alas, no. Canada was ousted by Finland, which was then overpowered within the semis by Italy, the eventual winner. Regardless, Milos’ win was the highlight of the week.

After two years away from the sport, he’d made a spectacular shock comeback.

He shocked greater than few this season when he despatched No.39 Miomir Kecmanovic residence within the first spherical of the grass-court occasion in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and gained his opening match at Wimbledon. Later in the summertime, he set the Nationwide Financial institution Open on fireplace when he defeated World No.10 Frances Tiafoe at residence in Toronto.

His invites to the Laver Cup and Davis Cup could have been his farewells to the game he loves and that made him well-known.

In any case, his 2016 Wimbledon closing and climb to No. 3 from November 2016 to January 2017 are completely unforgettable.

However nothing’s determined but. Let’s give him a while to maintain desirous about it.

Forza Italia!

Due to its younger famous person Jannik Sinner, Italy managed to comb Australia 2–0 and carry the Davis Cup residence to Rome.

After Matteo Arnaldi vanquished Alexei Popyrin, Sinner breezed previous Alex de Minaur to seal the deal.

The win is a historic one for Italy. It’s solely the nation’s second Davis Cup since Corrado Barazzutti, Adriano Panatta and Paolo Bertolucci dominated worldwide group tennis manner again in 1976.

In Could 2021, I wrote a segment for this blog entitled “The Italians are coming” to show a highlight on the emergence of a number of promising Italian tennis gamers because the likes of Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi slowly pale.

Already Berrettini, Sinner, Sonego and Musetti had been lining up like a brand new military, prepared to revive Italy’s (tennis) glory. And let’s not neglect the latest recruit Matteo Arnaldi, who was little doubt impressed by his countrymen.

It’s fairly clear that the ATP’s new Azzurri are right here to remain.

ATP rankings on November 27, 2023

4 (4) – Sinner (22 years previous)
27 (15) – Musetti (21)
44 (41) – Arnaldi (22)
47 (21) – Sonego (28)
90 (6) – Berrettini (27)

*(Profession-Excessive Rating)

It’s secure to imagine that the fifth member of this proficient group can be the Italian No. 2 if he hadn’t been slowed by wrist, belly and ankle accidents in 2022. Previous to that, the Roman had spent an uninterrupted two years and eight months within the High 10.

As for Italy’s new captain, Jannik Sinner appears destined for much more glory.

The present No. 4 simply wrapped up a blinding season, delivering on each expectation that was positioned upon him a couple of years again, when he was predicted to win a Slam and rule the world rankings.

He obtained so far as the semis at Wimbledon, pocketed his first Masters 1000 title on the NBO in Toronto after which collected two ATP 500 trophies (Beijing and Vienna) this fall. He made it to the final word showdown on the ATP Finals after which steered Italy to its Davis Cup triumph.

Right here’s a pic from the decisive second in Italy’s march to the Davis Cup on November 25. Sinner has simply defeated Novak Djokovic twice, in singles and doubles. They’re shaking fingers for the second time in a couple of hours as Jannik walks off the court docket the winner. Once more.

One other cup for Genie

After the fun of successful the Billie Jean King Cup, Eugenie Bouchard flew from Spain to the British Virgin Islands to compete in one more, extra modest, cup organized by a person wealthier than the complete WTA High 10 mixed: Sir Richard Branson.

The six-day occasion was held on Necker Island, which Branson owns together with the neighbouring island of Moskito.

At a look, the list of active and retired players who’ve competed within the tennis spectacular is past spectacular.

From Nov. 12 to 18, the Necker Cup featured pro-am tennis and golf tournaments and musical performances to boost funds for a number of organizations together with Virgin Unite and the Nationwide Tennis Basis. Since 2012, US$4M has been handed out.

Along with Genie, Vasek Pospisil was a visitor on the 2022 occasion. So had been Heather Watson, Kevin Anderson, Mike Bryan and Juan Martin del Potro.

It goes with out saying that tennis comes second at the sort of occasion. The gamers are invited to please the organizer, entertain the individuals they’re paired with and the followers and have enjoyable.

So that you gained’t be too disenchanted to be taught that Genie misplaced her match however nonetheless made one of the best of it, as evidenced by this piece that appeared in the New York Post a couple of days after the beginning of the match.

Like a lot of her fellow execs, she’d additionally attended earlier editions of the Necker Cup. A number of years again, she joined a choose group of tennis stars that included Bjorn Borg.