Holger Rune and Milos Raonic will meet in one of the first-round blockbusters at the 2024 Canadian Open in Montreal, where they will both play.
The draw at the Canadian Open gave fans in Montreal a sensational first-round matchup between Raonic and Rune. The Canadian hasn't been playing as much anymore, and he has not been playing at his best level, but he has certainly proven to be quite competitive in the right circumstances.
The Canadian Open is one of those, as the court speed suits him and the way he plays tennis. Much of that revolves around the serve, which is still a major weapon, as we've seen at the Olympics, where he wasn't broken in the only match he played there.
He didn't win the match, but he made it close, and fans can expect something similar in this match as well. Rune hasn't proven immune to losing his cool in matches that don't go his way.
His level recently hasn't been the highest, mostly because he has dealt with many physical problems, so that's also something to consider. Playing doesn't necessarily mean he is fully healthy, either, because he has played with an injury in the past as well.
Head-to-head:
The two have never played against each other, which isn't a surprise. They should have played earlier this year in Indian Wells, but the Canadian withdrew ahead of that clash at the ATP Masters 1000 event.
It's a shame because it would have given us some good insight as to how this matchup could play out. Rune can beat Raonic with his shot-making, but he must be precise.
The Canadian's serve doesn't allow for many chances, especially not on a court like the one in Canada, though much will also depend on how he plays in the rallies.
His forehand will be tested, and if he doesn't hit it at a decent clip, he might find himself in trouble. For Rune, the return will matter a lot, as will how he deals with the few chances he will get.
| Holger Rune | Milos Raonic | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | H2H | 0 |
| 17 | Rank | 177 |
| 21 | Age | 33 |
| 27-15 | 2024 W/L | 6-4 |
| 121-77 | Career W/L | 383-183 |
Prediction:
Rune is the nominal favorite in this match, largely because he's the better player. He's a player that could play some extraordinary tennis to beat Raonic.
We know what we'll get from the Canadian at this point; we just don't know how high of a level he will play. He will serve well and focus on his forehand. The goal will be to keep the serve and try to break somehow, and if it doesn't happen, win in the tie-break.
For Rune, the winning condition will be his return. If he can put many tennis balls back into the court, then he will force Raonic to play rallies, which he doesn't want to do because he will be a sitting duck there.
Overall, it does seem like a matchup that Rune will be able to win, provided he is reasonably healthy, which is unknown.
Prediction: Holger Rune to win in three sets.
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