Hopman Cup in Perth / Milos Raonic Said To Look For BIG Serves

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 26th December 2013

BNP Paribas 2013 Masters Tennis Tournament

Hopman Cup in Perth / Milos Raonic Said To Look For BIG Serves

epa03930525 Milos Raonic of Canada serves the ball to Robin Haase of Netherlands, during their second round match at the BNP Paribas 2013 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 30 October 2013. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

Milos Raonic won’t hold back at the weekend as he unleashes his big serve to mark Canada’s first appearance at the Hopman Cup in a decade. The nation played in 2004 but failed to make any progress in the eight-nation mixed team tournament in Perth. Canada begins play against host Australia, comprising Bernard Tomic and Samantha Stosur.

The 23-year-old Raonic has vowed not play it safe in the mixed doubles rubber. But the ATP No. 11 does admit to some nervousness as he and Eugenie Bouchard take to the court.

“The mixed is what I’m most concerned about,” Raonic confessed after a hit-out following his late arrival Christmas Day arrival. “I’ll have to crank up the serve, because it will be more distressing if I see some winning returns coming back at me. I’ll have to go all-out. I try to always serve hard, but it’s more about the serving numbers than the speed gun.

“Eugenie (who tweeted a selfie from her airplane seat on the flight to Perth) plays well and has some mixed experience, she’s very athletic and is not shy at the net. She pushes her opponents and that’s idea for the mixed.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp, Australia, Bernard Tomic, Canada, Eugenie Bouchard, Hopman Cup, milos raonic, Perth, Samantha Stosur, Tennis, Tennis News