As Canadian tennis’ highest-ranked singles player of all time, Milos Raonic’s time at his home tournament was bound to have some unforgettable moments during the 35-year-old’s remarkable career.
It all began at the 2009 National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Montreal. The 18-year-old from Thornhill beat former Top 50 players Teymuraz Gabashvili and Michael Llodra in qualifying to earn his first ATP main-draw appearance.
Raonic’s debut was a gutsy three-setter against world No. 10 Fernando Gonzalez. The Tour got its first look at the Canuck’s big serve, firing 20 aces on home soil, but he ultimately fell in an impressive 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 outing.
Just a year later, Raonic would be a part of one of the most memorable wins in Canadian tennis history. He and Vasek Pospisil, two of Canada’s up-and-comers, were set to face singles world No. 1 Rafael Nadal and world No. 2 Novak Djokovic in the first round of the 2010 National Bank Open doubles draw in Toronto. It was the first time the ATP’s Top 2 teamed for an event since 1976.
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The Canadian youngsters put the greats to the test in the opener, but Nadal and Djokovic took a one-set lead. However, Raonic and Pospisil rallied with help from the home crowd. The countrymen took the second set and carried that momentum into the decisive tiebreak, where they climbed out to a 5-0 advantage.
Nadal and Djokovic mounted a strong comeback, eventually closingto 9-8, but with Raonic serving at match point, the Canucks secured the monumental win.
However, that wouldn’t be Raonic’s last encounter with some of tennis’ greatest at the National Bank Open.
In 2013, following his quarter-final result in Toronto the year prior, Raonic was one win away from the last eight once again. Standing in his way – world No. 7 and 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro.
The Canadian passed the toughest test of his National Bank Open career (up to that point) with flying colours, taking down the Argentine 7-5, 6-4 in under two hours to advance to the quarter-finals of his home tournament for the second-straight season.
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On this occasion, Raonic continued past the quarters, beating former world No. 10 Ernests Gulbis in three sets before playing a familiar face in an historic semifinal clash.
The Thornhillian stood across the court from compatriot Pospisil as part of the first all-Canadian semifinal in Masters 1000 history. Raonic struck first against his 2010 NBO doubles partner, but Pospisil was dominant in his response to send the Montreal clash into a decider.
The match truly went the distance, all the way to a third-set tiebreak, where Raonic punched his ticket to his maiden Masters 1000 final thanks to the 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4) victory.
In the title match, the 22-year-old couldn’t stun world No. 4 Nadal, but the historic final didn’t come without milestones. Raonic broke into the Top 10, becoming the first Canadian man to achieve the feat in singles.
The future Wimbledon finalist touched down in Toronto the year after as a Top 10 player, sitting at No. 6 which was the highest-ranking he has ever brought into the National Bank Open. Raonic made the quarter-finals back-to-back times in his home province in 2014 and 2016 after his finals run. He eventually played his last National Bank Open in 2023 in Toronto, reaching the third round, upsetting No. 9 seed Frances Tiafoe in the process.
The former world No. 3 brought fans to their feet across Montreal and Toronto, setting milestones right on Canadian soil, as he goes down as one of the country’s most influential players.
The ATP's best return to Montreal next summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers Aug 1 to 13 at IGA Stadium. Get your tickets today!
Feature Photo: Peter Power
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