The SAP Open boasts a long line of great tennis champions and if you are taking some notes and following the game of tennis real close, then the name Milos Raonic would ring some sort of a bell. In the recent 2011 SAP Open, Milos Raonic became one of those that made the biggest jumps in this season’s tour rankings. Months ago before the tournament, Milos Raonic was the 152nd ranked player in the world but if you are keeping track of his career since dethroning top seed and defending champion Fernando Verdasco in the SAP Open, you would be amazed on how fast he landed in the 27th rank this week.

20-year old Milos Raonic hails from Thornhill in Toronto, Canada and is the first Canadian player to win an ATP singles tournament since Greg Rusedski way back in 1995. He had been receiving rave reviews from tennis enthusiasts and sports writers alike since his outstanding performance in the Australian Open though he was defeated by the World No. 7 David Ferrer.

“He is one of the most difficult players to play against,” Verdasco said. “Maybe he won’t serve so well and I’ll win the match but I can’t count on that.” And that claim is true enough as Raonic defeated Verdasco (again) in their match in Memphis, two days after facing each other in the SAP Open.

Raonic was beaten by World no. 12 Andy Roddick in the Memphis final. Nonetheless, everybody witnessed a really great play as the young upstart with the huge serve continued to “wow” the crowd, and should I say the commentators as well. His ranking skyrocketed to no.37 after their match.

There has been a swift maturation in the young Raonic’s play and his pure unique talent can still be nurtured in the long run. He’s just 20 and already pouncing, what more when he become a veteran in the coming age! I must say this “Maple Leaf Missile’s” performance on court would lead him to become one lethal player soon enough. Raonic’s matches are lined up the whole year and with that aggressive but timely forehands and tactical volleys, I will be looking forward for more nail-biting performance and winning moments from him.

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