Milos Raonic Takes Time Out To Be A Tokyo Tourist

Written by: Staff on 4th October 2012

Milos Raonic Takes Time Out To Be A Tokyo Tourist

epa03413797 Milos Raonic of Canada returns to Jarkko Nieminen of Finland during their quarter final match at the Thailand Open tennis tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, 28 September 2012. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT |

Canadian Milos Raonic swung a heavy samurai sword during a day out in Tokyo as the world No. 15 took time away from the courts at the Japan Open. The 21-year-old was particularly impressed as he visited a museum and got his hands on the deadly weapon from a few centuries ago.

He also took a rickshaw ride and generally saw a side of Japanese life in the capital well removed from the tennis sphere. “That sword took me by surprise, it was really heavy,” said Raonic after reaching the quarter-finals when good friend Viktor Troicki quit after three games with an existing calf injury.

“It was special to have this experience, seeing something of the city, For me, culture is not reading about it but actually experiencing it. I’ve done a safari outside of Johannesburg and saw Thai boxing last week as well in Bangkok .”

Raonic is moving towards a possible showdown with US Open winner Andy Murray, the top seed defending both singles and doubles titles in Tokyo . But it’s only the next round with Janko Tipsarevic that concerns Raonic.

The Canadian has reached the last eight in the capital for the first time after losing back-to-back second rounds here against Rafael Nadal at the last two editions.

Raonic, who says he has recovered from a poor week in Bangkok , termed his current game “in good health.”

“It’s on the right track again, I’m getting better and better with each match, I struggled last week but I came here with a different attitude and a different strategy.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Canadian tennis news, Japan Open, milos raonic, Tokyo Open, Viktor Troicki