The Magician disappears as Raonic flies solo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The last time we saw Milos Raonic, he was with coach Fabrice Santoro at Wimbledon.

Despite his Canadian’s back woes, which continued Thursday in a third-round loss at the Citi Open, he still made the second week.

And Argentina’s Guido Pella needed to go 8-6 in the fifth set to beat him.

But there was no Santoro in Washington, D.C. this week.

And, it appears, going forward.

When Tennis.Life asked if the French player nicknamed “The Magician” would be in Montreal for the Rogers Cup, Raonic said he wouldn’t.

When we asked when he was expected back on board, Raonic said the topic “hadn’t been discussed”.

In Raonic-speak, if we read him correctly, that means “he’s done”. At least for now.

Mario Tudor into the breach

*Raonic looked pretty overheated even during the warmup with coach Mario Tudor Thursday at the Citi Open. During his loss to lucky loser Peter Gojowczyk, his back stiffened up on him – again.*

In Washington this week, Raonic had former Tour player Mario Tudor, a Croat, with him.

Tudor, 41, is a very good friend and former coach of Goran Ivanisevic. And Raonic said Thursday that when Ivanisevic was coaching him, Tudor was the one who filled on during the weeks that Ivanisevic had other commitments and couldn’t travel.

So he’s a familiar face.

But that’s another coach in the books. As much as people talk about how many Raonic’s countrywoman Genie Bouchard has had in her career, Raonic can’t be too far behind her.