11 years ago, Vasek Pospisil and Milos Raonic made Jarry Park tremble when they faced each other in the semifinals of the Montreal tournament.
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Raonic was 22 years old at the time and ranked 13the in the world and had already won four ATP titles. Pospisil, for his part, was 23 years old and ranked 71ste rank.
“It’s the favorite week of my career because it’s the first big result I’ve achieved,” Pospisil said on Sunday. It was very special with the crowd in second place. When I see videos of that game, it’s very special and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”
“I think it was the first time I had a chance to make the top 10,” recalled Raonic, who also met with the Quebec media on Sunday. The pressure was high. This is probably my most important victory in Montreal. These are great memories.”
Photo credit: Archive photo, BEN PELOSSE
On the way to the top 3 in the world
After defeating Pospisil 6:4, 1:6 and 7:6 (4), the strong server lost to Rafael Nadal in the final.
In 2016, the year he won his eighth and final tournament, Roanic continued his rise to third place in the world. Numerous injuries subsequently slowed him down and even forced him into a nearly two-year inactivity between 2021 and 2023.
“He was always a great rival,” said Pospisil, 616e global. We are practically the same age and were number 1 and 2 in Canada for a long time. We faced each other four times and it was always a real battle. I won twice and so did he. We could decide it here in the semi-finals!”
Photo credit: Photo MARTIN CHEVALIER
Big challenge
But before we think about another semi-final between the two veterans, Raonic, 177e ATP racket, will have a lot to do in Montreal against the Dane Holger Rune, 17eafter a short stay at the Olympic Games.
“He is someone who has given a lot to Canada,” Pospisil praised. Today we are older and our relationship has changed a little. When we were younger, we didn’t talk much. Now we are more mature and we know that there will soon be life after tennis.
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