McEnroe excited by Raonic potential

Omnisports

May 30, 2016 9:25 AM

Former world number one John McEnroe wants to give Milos Raonic "a better understanding of how to take advantage of his attributes".

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John McEnroe hopes his link-up with Milos Raonic is "not a one-shot thing" and has reiterated his belief that the world number nine can win Wimbledon.

McEnroe, the winner of three singles titles and five doubles crowns at the All England Club, will become the latest high-profile former player to move into the coaching ranks, having agreed to join the 25-year-old's team as a consultant on a short-term basis.

Raonic reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2014 and also made the last four of this year's Australian Open, yet McEnroe is confident there is more to come from the Canadian, who exited the French Open at the fourth-round stage on Sunday.

"It doesn't seem like he's been able to do as well as certainly someone with his game could do, and I think he could win it [Wimbledon]," McEnroe, 57, told the New York Times.

"Hopefully I can add that little bit and give him a little bit better understanding of how to take advantage of his attributes, his size. He's a big strong, great, dedicated and smart kid.

"I'm hoping this is not a one-shot thing. I think it would be incredibly difficult to make an impact that quickly. I think it's a process.

"The best I've ever seen Milos play was this year at the Australian. I really felt he was playing the style of play in order to get into these top guys' heads and potentially take it to that next level."

World number one Novak Djokovic has gone from strength to strength with Boris Becker as part of his coaching team, while the likes of Stefan Edberg, Ivan Lendl and Carlos Moya - who started working with Raonic at the beginning of the year - have also used their experience at the highest level to assist current stars.

"Only one of my six kids is still at the house, and I'm not getting any younger," said McEnroe of his decision to aid Raonic. "I think the former players coming in has been great for the sport and especially for some of the players like Boris. I think it was a great move, and it turned out to be a win-win."

Reflecting on his only previous coaching experience, McEnroe added: "Boris asked me to work with him between Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 1993, and it's a long story and pretty humorous, but basically, he didn't listen to a word I said.

"I was going through a divorce; he was going through this fight [with his agent]. So the tennis part suddenly seemed to become secondary. But the idea was good."

Omnisports

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