Canadian tennis star Milos Raonic, celebrated for his thunderous ‘Missile’ serve, has retired. He reached his career peak in 2016 when he advanced to the Wimbledon final against Andy Murray. An eight-time ATP title winner with more than $20 million in career earnings, Raonic had not competed for over a year. Yet on Sunday, he officially announced that “the time has come.”

“I am retiring from tennis,” Raonic posted on X. “This is a moment you know will come one day, but somehow you never feel ready for it. This is as ready as I will ever be. Tennis has been my love and obsession for most of my life.”

Raonic’s words reflected both acceptance and gratitude for a sport that shaped him. The tennis pro then reflected on how fortunate he had been to live out a childhood dream that began by chance. Tennis, he explained, slowly became everything to him.

“I got to show up every day and focus on just getting better, seeing where that will take me, and playing a game I was introduced to at 8 years old by complete luck,” Raonic continued. “Somehow, this became my entire obsession and childhood, and then became my profession and life.”

The journey, he noted, was filled with moments of growth and learning. He also paid tribute to the fans who followed him across the world.

“They got to see me shining at my brightest and managing the hardest of moments on the court. They got to see me grow up.”

Raonic also thanked everyone who supported him, even briefly, during his long career.

“Thank you to my coaches and team, who took time away from their families and homes to be on the road with me as I pursue my dream and goals,” the Canadian star wrote.

Raonic also expressed gratitude to the tennis institutions and his peers. He thanked the ATP Tour, the ITF, and the Grand Slams for giving him unforgettable experiences. He praised his opponents for pushing and shaping him as both a player and a person.

Finally, Raonic turned to his roots.

“Thank you to Canada.”

The tennis veteran, who turned professional in 2008, also thanked his family for their unwavering support. Looking ahead, he made one thing clear: he “won’t be slowing down.”

How injuries cut short Milos Raonic’s promising tennis career

Milos Raonic enjoyed a successful and influential tennis career. His finest season came in 2016. That year, he reached the Wimbledon final after defeating Roger Federer in the semifinals. Raonic also made the semifinals of the Australian Open and the Nitto ATP Finals, reached the Indian Wells final, and ended the season at a career-high world No. 3.

Raonic remained the highest-ranked Canadian singles player in ATP history. His powerful serve defined his game. It also made him one of the most feared opponents on tour. At his peak, he was among the elite players in men’s tennis. He played in four Masters 1000 finals from 2013 to 2020 and lost them all, the first at the Canadian Open to Rafael Nadal and the other three to Novak Djokovic.

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His final professional match came at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. He lost a tight first-round battle to Dominik Koepfer, 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 6-7(1). That day marked the end of a brief comeback by the Canadian.

Raonic struggled endlessly with injuries. Foot and Achilles tendon problems began in 2021. They forced him out of competition for more than two full seasons. Although he returned, his body never fully recovered.

After his 2016 peak, injuries slowed him down. He dealt with problems in his hip, back, leg, knee, and shoulder. A serious shoulder injury in 2024 proved decisive, and he never recovered enough to attempt another comeback.

Raonic has become a true ambassador of Canadian tennis.

Happy retirement, champ.