Nadal is trying to play more aggressive than before, says Milos Raonic

01/01/2017

Current World No.3 Milos Raonic has said that he found a streak of aggression in Rafael Nadal’s play, when they met in the semi-finals of Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi. The Canadian is also hopeful of a confident performance in the season-starting Australian Open.

Rafael Nadal ended an otherwise injury-plagued year on a high, by winning the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi. Before defeating David Goffin on Saturday showdown, the Spaniard had defeated big-serving Milos Raonic in the semi-final of the event.

Raonic praised Nadal’s aggressive play in an interview with The Courier-Mail. He said, “He played well and was trying to play more aggressive than before.”

He added, “He’s trying to create more than he has, trying to take the match into his own hands. I don’t think there was any sort of hindrance from an injury.’’

This year was more about incorporating the things we’ve worked on over the off-season.

Raonic

Raonic also feels that he is playing better than how he was at around the same time last year and is certainly hopeful of a complete performance in this edition.

“Last year was very different circumstances when I went there (to Abu Dhabi) because I hadn’t played for a long time,’’ said the Wimbledon runner-up, who will play either American Sam Querry or Argentine Diego Schartzmann in his first match at the Pat Rafter Arena after a round-one bye.

“This year was more about incorporating the things we’ve worked on over the off-season. I feel confident in the way I’m playing," he concluded.