Playing a competitive match for the first time in nearly two years, Canada’s Milos Raonic beat No. 5 seed Miomir Kecmanović of Serbia 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands on Monday.
The former world No. 3 last played in July 2021 at the Atlanta Open before he was sidelined by a heel injury.
When Raonic withdrew from the 2022 Australian Open in December 2021, it was announced he had an Achilles injury.
The 32-year-old Raonic has been hampered by injuries throughout his career, but has achieved good results when healthy — especially in 2016 when he reached the Wimbledon final and Australian Open semifinals.
On Monday, Raonic beat the world’s 39th-ranked player on a grass-court, traditionally the best surface for the product of Thornhill, Ont.
The big-serving Raonic won 92 per cent of points when he got his first serve in (34 of 37). He had 15 aces and seven double faults.
It was Raonic’s first win since March 2021 in Miami.
Raonic will next face the winner of a match between Australia’s Jordan Thompson and French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
