Raonic: It_Ñés only going to get better

 

Originally published on: 19/06/13 00:00

One week on from losing to Gael Monfils in Halle, the world No.15 suffered another early exit at the Aegon International in Eastbourne, falling 6-2 7-6(7) to Croatia’s Ivan Dodig.

Raonic, who bar a semi-final run in Barcelona has struggled with his form since leading his country to its first ever Davis Cup World Group win at the beginning of April, insists results are all that’s missing from his game.

“I don't think I'm a worse player,” said the 22-year-old. “I don't think I'm playing worse. I have been playing okay, and I just – I think the last few weeks I haven't played my best, so it sort of affects the confidence.”

The 6ft5 right-hander has yet to win a match since teaming up with former world No.3 Ljubicic at the beginning of the month.

“Yeah, obviously I think it needs time, that's for sure,” Raonic said of the new partnership. “I think the approach and things we're trying to achieve are a bit different. We're trying to incorporate things and understanding that it's not always going to work, try to sort of win the matches but sort of think about what I'm trying to improve, not just for that day.

“It's about having a long_ѥterm goal and a way that I need to play if I want to achieve the things I want to achieve down the road.”

The Candian’s record on grass now stands at 8-8, making it his worst surface on paper.

“It's more me,” said Raonic when asked if grass doesn’t suit his game. “I've got to figure out my thing. It's like I'm just not executing the things I need to execute. Obviously the surface doesn't make it easy. I think it's easier for me to figure out things on hard courts per se, but I think it's all on my shoulders.

“[I] can't play much worse, so it's only going to get better. I think I should be positive in that sense.”

Next up for Raonic is Wimbledon, where he has reached the second round in his only two appearances.

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