Former world No. 3 announces retirement ahead of Australian Open
Milos Raonic, the former world number three and 2016 Wimbledon finalist, has announced his retirement from professional tennis just days before the Australian Open gets underway in Melbourne.
The 35-year-old Canadian confirmed the decision in a statement shared on social media, bringing an end to a career defined by powerful serving, repeated injury setbacks and a brief but significant spell among the elite of the men’s game.
Raonic confirms retirement in social media statement
“The time has come, I am retiring from tennis. This is a moment you know will come one day, but somehow you never feel ready for it. This is as ready as I will ever be,” Raonic wrote. “Tennis has been my love and obsession for most of my life.”
Raonic reflected on how the sport shaped his life from childhood into adulthood, describing himself as “the luckiest person” to have turned a game he discovered at the age of eight into a profession. He said his focus throughout his career was simply on improving each day and seeing where that pursuit would lead.
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In a separate passage, he paid tribute to supporters across the world, thanking fans who followed both his biggest moments and his struggles on court. “They got to see me shining at my brightest and managing the hardest of moments,” he said, adding that he was grateful for every person who stopped to watch or offer support.
Raonic also acknowledged the coaches, fellow players and organisations that shaped his career, including the ATP Tour, the ITF and the Grand Slam tournaments.
Injuries, Wimbledon final and lasting impact
Although his career was frequently interrupted by injuries, Raonic reached the Wimbledon final in 2016, where he was beaten by Andy Murray, and won eight ATP singles titles overall, including tournaments in Brisbane and Washington. His final professional match came in 2024, when he lost to Germany’s Dominik Koepfer at the Paris Olympic Games.
Renowned as one of the most dominant servers of his era, Raonic leaves the sport holding the record for the most aces in a three-set ATP match, having struck 47 in a win over Cameron Norrie at Queen’s Club in 2024.
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Raonic’s announcement comes as attention builds ahead of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the 2026 season. The men’s and women’s singles tournaments are scheduled to begin on Sunday, with defending champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys returning to Melbourne alongside contenders including Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, Alexander Zverev and Coco Gauff.
Not all high-profile names will feature in singles action. Australian player Nick Kyrgios confirmed last week that he will skip the singles draw and instead compete in doubles with Thanasi Kokkinakis, the pair who lifted the title together in 2022.
Sources: Raonic social media statement, SPORTbible
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