Milos Raonic: Former Wimbledon finalist announces retirement from tennis - 'As ready as I will ever be'
Published 12/01/2026 at 10:49 GMT
Former world No. 3 Milos Raonic has announced his retirement from tennis aged 35. In a post on social media, Raonic - who won eight tour-level titles - said he is "as ready as I will ever be" to call time on his career. The Canadian reached the final of Wimbledon in 2016, where he was defeated by Andy Murray, in the same year that he also made it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
Highlights as Raonic serves record-breaking 47 aces in win over Norrie at Queen’s
Video credit: SNTV
Milos Raonic has announced his retirement from tennis.
The former world No. 3 reached his career-high ranking following a year which saw him beat Roger Federer in the semi-finals of Wimbledon, before losing to Andy Murray in straight sets in the final.
That same year, Raonic also reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open - where he was also defeated by Murray - alongside making it to the last four of the ATP Finals and the Indian Wells final.
Raonic, 35, has not played a competitive singles match since his defeat to Dominik Koepfer at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
"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. Tennis has been my love and obsession for most of my life," he wrote on X.
"I have been the luckiest person to get to live out and fulfil my dreams. I got to show up every day and focus on just getting better, seeing where that will take me, and playing a game I was introduced to at 8 years old by complete luck.
"Somehow, this became my entire obsession and childhood, and then became my profession and life.
"I am thankful for the incredible fans I got to compete and practice in front of all over the world. They got to see me shining at my brightest and managing the hardest of moments on the court. They got to see me grow up. Thank you to each and every one who stopped, even for a moment, to watch and support me.
"A big part of my tennis journey has been the incredible people I have been fortunate to meet all over the world. On many occasions, they have been wonderful mentors who have given me the time and guidance to figure out the rest of my life."
Raonic was famed for his mighty serve, which earned him the nickname 'Missile'.
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In a victory against British No. 2 Cam Norrie at Queen's in June 2024, Raonic hit a staggering 47 aces - a record for a best-of-three ATP match.
Raonic won his first tour-level title in 2011, the Pacific Coast Championship, a title he went on to successfully defend twice in the subsequent years.
He then earned the first big victory of his career when he upset Roger Federer in straight sets in the quarter-finals of the 2014 Paris Masters. He reached the final that year, but was defeated by Novak Djokovic. Overall, Raonic reached four finals of ATP 1000 events.
In 2013, Raonic became the first Canadian player to break into the top 10, and by defeating Federer in the 2016 Wimbledon semi-final, was the first Canadian to reach the final of a Grand Slam, whereupon he lost to Murray.
Injuries sidelined Raonic for nearly two years between 2021-2023, and he returned with a straight-sets win against Miomir Kecmanovic in Hertogenbosch - also appearing at Wimbledon and the US Open that year.
"What’s next? I won’t be slowing down," Raonic added. "There is so much more life to live, and I am as motivated and hungry as I was in 2011, when I broke through on tour.
"I will put the same effort and intensity into the next thing. If I can pursue the same excellence as I did with my tennis, just trying to be better every day, and let’s see where it takes me."
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