For more than a decade, Milos Raonic walked onto tennis courts as one of the tallest men in the game — and one of the most quietly dangerous — before walking away in January 2026 at age 35. The Canadian former world No. 3 announced his retirement on social media on January 11 (Olympics.com (IOC digital platform)), closing a career defined by a 2016 Wimbledon final and 6,071 career aces (ATP Tour (official ATP records)).
Height: 195 cm (6’5″) ·
Highest singles ranking: No. 3 (2016) ·
ATP singles titles: 8 ·
Career aces: 6,071 ·
Retirement date: January 2026
Quick snapshot
- Retired in January 2026 at age 35 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Career-high singles ranking of world No. 3 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Won 8 ATP Tour singles titles (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Runner-up at Wimbledon in 2016 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Exact reasons for retirement beyond the injuries
- Future plans after tennis
- Whether he will stay involved in the sport
- January 11, 2026: retirement announced on social media (Olympics.com (IOC digital platform)) (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
- Last match: 2024 Paris Olympics (ATP Tour (official ATP records)) (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
- Foot and Achilles problems began in 2021 (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
- Post-tennis role: unconfirmed — the open question of his exit
- Legacy secured as the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
Eleven rows, one pattern: a big man’s career measured in big numbers — 195 cm, 6,071 aces, world No. 3 — with injuries writing the final chapter. All values below follow ATP Tour (official ATP records).
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Milos Raonic |
| Birth Date | December 27, 1990 |
| Birth Place | Podgorica, Montenegro |
| Height | 195 cm (6’5″) |
| Weight | 98 kg (216 lb) |
| Plays | Right |
| Turned Pro | 2008 |
| Retired | January 2026 |
| Highest Singles Ranking | No. 3 (2016) |
| ATP Singles Titles | 8 |
| Career Aces | 6,071 |
The pattern: the stat line confirms the narrative — an elite peak in 2016, then a slow fade interrupted by comebacks.
What happened to Raonic?
Raonic’s retirement announcement
- Announced his retirement in January 2026 at age 35 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Made the announcement in a social-media post dated January 11, 2026 (Olympics.com (IOC digital platform))
- Described tennis as his love in the retirement statement (Olympics.com (IOC digital platform))
The decision was not a shock — Raonic had barely competed since his last professional match at the 2024 Paris Olympics (ATP Tour (official ATP records)) — but the confirmation still closed the door on one of the most significant Canadian men’s tennis careers ever.
The same 195 cm (6’5″) frame that produced 6,071 career aces (ATP Tour (official ATP records)) carried the foot and Achilles problems that ended the career. The weapon and the cost came from the same body.
Reason for leaving tennis
- Foot and Achilles tendon problems that began in 2021 (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
- More than two full seasons lost to those injuries, according to TENNIS.com (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
- A limited comeback lasting roughly one year before the decision to retire (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
In his statement, Raonic described tennis as his love. The preceding years, however, were mostly a fight to get back on court: the 2021 problems cost him more than two full seasons, and his comeback lasted roughly a year before the end, according to TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication).
Final match and career statistics
- Last professional match: first round of the 2024 Paris Olympics, a three-set loss to Dominik Koepfer, 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 6-7(1) (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Career totals: 8 ATP Tour singles titles, 6,071 career aces, career-high world No. 3 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Represented Canada in singles and doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to TENNIS.com (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
Even the final chapter was competitive. Koepfer needed two tiebreaks and a deciding set to close Raonic out, and the match felt less like a farewell than a snapshot of a player whose level was still dangerous. Olympics.com noted in its retirement report that Raonic was a two-time Olympian (Olympics.com (IOC digital platform)).
Actor: Raonic’s body, specifically his foot and Achilles. Consequence: Forced an early retirement that cut short a career that had already delivered a Wimbledon final and a world No. 3 ranking. Follow sports coverage.
Why this matters: Raonic’s retirement did not arrive suddenly; it arrived slowly, through years of injury and abbreviated comebacks. The announcement made official what his absence from the tour already suggested — the body was out of time.
Who is a tall Canadian tennis player?
Milos Raonic: basic biography
- Born December 27, 1990, in Podgorica, Montenegro (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Raised in Thornhill, Ontario, after moving to Canada as a child (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Turned professional in 2008; retired in January 2026 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
The “tall Canadian tennis player” question has a one-name answer: Raonic. Born in Podgorica, Montenegro, and raised in Thornhill, Ontario, he was a child immigrant who became Canada’s first male Grand Slam finalist — a biography that explains why the country claimed him so completely.
Physical attributes and playing style
- Height: 195 cm (6’5″); weight: 98 kg (216 lb) (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Right-handed, with a game built around a dominant serve (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Recorded 6,071 career aces — the statistical signature of his career (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
Raonic’s game was simple to describe and hard to counter: hold the serve, pressure the return, and turn every match into a sequence of short points decided by the first strike. The serve was the foundation, and 6,071 aces over a career is the proof, per ATP records.
Early career and rise to fame
- Won his first ATP Tour title in San Jose in 2011 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Spent several seasons inside the top 10 before his peak year (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Became the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon in 2016 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
The rise was steady rather than sudden. After the 2011 breakthrough in San Jose, Raonic became a fixture in the later rounds of majors, and the 2016 Wimbledon run was the culmination: a semifinal win over Roger Federer, then a final against Andy Murray.
Actor: Raonic’s unique physique and dominant serve. Consequence: Created a playing style that made him a national icon and forever changed the trajectory of Canadian men’s tennis. Tennis on Kelowna Daily.
What this means: Raonic answered the “tall Canadian” question so completely that the phrase became a shortcut for his whole career — a big man who turned height into the sport’s most efficient weapon.
Who are the top 10 men’s tennis players?
The 2025 top-10 picture
- As of the 2025 season, the names most associated with the top of the men’s game include Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- The exact top-10 order shifts with every tournament cycle, so any fixed list goes stale within weeks (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
The honest answer to the top-10 question is that it is a rotating door. The steadier question for Raonic fans is where his career sits in that history: not as a one-week wonder, but as a player who reached the top three and held a place in the elite conversation for several seasons.
Where Raonic stands historically
- 2016 Australian Open semifinalist (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- 2016 Wimbledon finalist — first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- 2016 Indian Wells finalist and ATP Finals semifinalist (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
The 2016 season was the year Raonic turned potential into a durable résumé: deep runs at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Wimbledon, and the ATP Finals, with a win over Roger Federer in the Wimbledon semifinals along the way. No Canadian man had produced a year like it before, and none has matched it since.
With Raonic’s generation fading, the top of the men’s game has moved decisively toward movement-based tennis. The era of the pure serve-and-hold specialist is closing, and his retirement is the clearest marker of that shift.
Raonic’s peak ranking of world No. 3
- Career-high ranking: world No. 3, reached in 2016 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Finished the 2016 season at No. 3 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
Actor: Raonic’s 2016 season. Consequence: Secured his place as Canada’s highest-ranked male tennis player in history and a top competitor globally. Canadian Sports coverage.
The pattern: Raonic’s No. 3 peak was not a statistical fluke. It was a full season of deep runs at the sport’s biggest events, and it remains the highest ranking ever achieved by a Canadian man.
Who is considered the nicest tennis player?
Raonic’s reputation off court
- Known for a calm, low-drama on-court demeanor (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
- No major controversies or headline rivalries across a nearly two-decade career (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
- Respected by the journalists who covered his farewell for the same qualities (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
The “nicest tennis player” question is subjective, but Raonic’s name enters the conversation because his reputation was built on restraint. In an era of on-court drama, he was rarely the story off the court — and that absence of noise became its own kind of headline.
Sportsmanship and humility
- Calm demeanor even in the highest-pressure matches (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
- No public feuds or disputes during his career (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
That combination — competitive intensity without off-court noise — is why the “nicest player” question surfaces around his name at all. He competed hard and conducted himself with a professionalism that left critics nothing to grab onto.
Fan and peer perceptions
- Strong following in Canada, where he became a national tennis figure (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Often praised by fellow players for his professionalism, a theme in the coverage of his retirement (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
Actor: Raonic’s calm and professional demeanor. Consequence: Earned him widespread respect within the tennis community, leaving a legacy of sportsmanship. Canadian Tennis History.
The trade-off: being the nice guy rarely produces the loudest headlines, but it produces something more durable — a reputation that outlives the results.
Who is the most loved tennis player in the world?
Where the “most loved” conversation starts
- In men’s tennis, the most-loved debate begins with Roger Federer — the benchmark for global popularity across generations.
- Raonic’s appeal is more defined by Canada and by close followers of the tour than by global star power.
“Most loved” is a different category from “most successful”. Federer’s global affection came from longevity, style, and rivalries that crossed into popular culture. Raonic’s renown was always more specialized: Canadian pride, respect from regular tour watchers, and awe at the serve itself.
Raonic’s fan base
- Canadian fans embraced him as the country’s first male Grand Slam finalist (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- His serve made him a natural highlight-reel favorite, even for casual fans (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
The love Raonic attracted was specific and earned. A country that had never had a male finalist at a major found its standard-bearer, and he carried the role without drama or scandal.
How he compares to the sport’s most beloved figures
- Federer-level popularity is generational and rare; Raonic’s was never built on that scale.
- Raonic’s historical footprint is anchored in Canadian tennis history rather than global crossover fame.
The comparison is not a slight. Raonic was never going to match Federer’s popularity — almost nobody does. But the affection he did attract mattered more in Toronto and Montreal than any global fan poll can measure.
Actor: Raonic’s singular popularity in Canada. Consequence: His retirement creates a significant gap in the country’s tennis identity that no active player has yet filled.
Why this matters: in Canada, the most-loved men’s tennis player since 2016 has been Raonic — and his retirement leaves a gap no current Canadian player has yet filled.
Milos Raonic’s career timeline
Take the career in six snapshots and the arc is clear: a fast rise, a brutal peak, and a long, injury-slow exit.
- — Won his first ATP Tour title in San Jose (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- — Reached the Wimbledon final; lost to Andy Murray after beating Roger Federer in the semifinals (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- — Began struggling with injuries and dropped out of the top 10 (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
- — Foot and Achilles problems began, leading to more than two full seasons sidelined (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication))
- — Played his last professional match at the Paris Olympics (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- — Announced his retirement from professional tennis (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
The timeline’s silence is the story: between 2021 and the 2024 Paris Olympics, Raonic lost more than two full seasons to injury, according to TENNIS.com. The last third of his career was spent trying to get back to the court rather than adding to the trophy case.
Actor: Raonic’s persistent injuries. Consequence: Transformed a promising peak into a quiet, premature exit, documented by years of absence from the tour.
The takeaway: a career timeline normally ends with a farewell tour; Raonic’s ended with a quiet post on social media. The dates tell the truth: the body decided the ending years before the announcement did.
Confirmed facts vs. what’s still unclear
Most of Raonic’s career is now a matter of record. The open questions are fewer, but they matter for how his story will be remembered.
Confirmed facts
- Reached the Wimbledon final in 2016 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Career-high ranking of world No. 3 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Won 8 ATP Tour singles titles (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Retired in January 2026 (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
- Height of 195 cm (6’5″) (ATP Tour (official ATP records))
What’s unclear
- Exact reasons for retirement beyond the injuries
- Future plans after tennis
- Whether he will remain involved in tennis
- Whether the Paris Olympics was a conscious farewell or simply where the body gave out
- How much more he could have won without the 2021 foot and Achilles problems
The pattern: every verifiable detail lines up — the 2016 peak, the eight titles, the retirement. What remains unverifiable is intention: why exactly he stopped, and what comes next.
What people said about Raonic’s farewell
The farewell was quieter than the career deserved, but the words around it carried weight.
“The time has come.”
— Milos Raonic, in his retirement statement, as reported by TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication)
Raonic’s last reported competition was the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he lost his first-round singles match to Dominik Koepfer in three sets.
— ATP Tour (official ATP records)
Foot and Achilles tendon problems that began in 2021 kept him sidelined for more than two full seasons.
— TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication)
What this means: the record, official and editorial, lands on the same details — the 2016 run, the injuries, the respect. That consistency is the tell: Raonic’s legacy was settled long before January 2026.
The takeaway: Raonic’s retirement closes a chapter of Canadian tennis that did not exist before him: the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final, a career-high world No. 3, eight ATP titles, and 6,071 aces. For Canadian tennis, the implication is clear — the next generation has a new benchmark to chase, or the country will have to wait a long time to see a player like him again.
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Frequently asked questions
How many ATP titles did Milos Raonic win?
Eight ATP Tour singles titles (ATP Tour (official ATP records)).
What was Milos Raonic’s highest ranking?
World No. 3, reached during the 2016 season (ATP Tour (official ATP records)).
When did Milos Raonic retire?
He announced his retirement in January 2026, with the social-media post dated January 11, 2026 (Olympics.com (IOC digital platform)).
Why did Milos Raonic retire?
Foot and Achilles tendon problems that began in 2021 kept him sidelined for more than two full seasons and reduced his comeback to roughly one year, according to TENNIS.com (TENNIS.com (independent tennis publication)).
Did Milos Raonic win a Grand Slam?
No — his best major result was runner-up at Wimbledon in 2016, where he lost the final to Andy Murray (ATP Tour (official ATP records)).
What is Milos Raonic known for?
His powerful serve, 6,071 career aces, and status as the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final (ATP Tour (official ATP records)).
How many career aces did Milos Raonic record?
6,071 career aces (ATP Tour (official ATP records)).
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Noah Gagnon is Senior Regional Reporter at Kelowna Daily, covering breaking stories and community news across the Okanagan.