Rising Raonic Seeks First Ever Win at U.S. Open

By Erik Gudris

(August 28th, 2012) While Americans are expected to get more focus and more expectations placed on them during these two weeks at the U.S. Open, there's one North American player who will be feeling that pressure too as he kicks off his opening round match today.

It might be a surprise for some to learn that No. 15 seed Milos Raonic is only playing in his second U.S. Open this year having missed last year due to recovering from hip surgery. Raonic competed at Flushing Meadows for the first time in 2010 and lost in the first round, so the rising Canadian is hoping to make up for lost time and lost ranking points in what has been another successful season for him so far, including winning two titles earlier in the year in Chennai and San Jose.

But when asked at the Western and Southern Open about that early success, Raonic preferred to look at his season as a whole.

"I think I'm playing pretty good right now. I don't have too many events where I have been picking up 180 points. I get a lot of confidence from work and having the six weeks of offseason," Raonic said. "I thought maybe Barcelona was a little bit better just because it's in an environment that I really don't feel too comfortable in. Takes a lot of adjusting and so forth.So I beat a very good clay-court player there, Almagro, who was having a really good start. I think it's between these two, but I think I'm on the right track."

Perhaps due to modesty, Raonic didn't mention he also beat Andy Murray as well at Barcelona, an impressive win that added to his total career seven wins over top ten players.

Raonic is viewed by many as a potential top ten player and one who has distanced himself from the pack of rising young stars on tour. But that's not something Raonic dwells on.

"I think that's for everybody else to worry about. I'm not comparing myself with them. I'm comparing myself with what I need to do to be the best. That's for other people to decide."

Speaking of Murray, Raonic is in the No. 3 seed's section of the draw in New York and could possibly square off with the Olympic gold medalist in the fourth round, a match many think Raonic is capable of winning. If Raonic reaches that stage and goes further, expect Raonic's profile in his native Canada to climb even higher.

But first, Raonic must get that first ever win in Flushing Meadows. He looks to do that against Santiago Giraldo this morning on Court 11.

Photo Credit: (Chris Young/Canadian Press)