Australian Open 2016: ‘Heartbroken’ Raonic risked it all in injured fightback

Downcast: Raonic suffered a groin injury during his semi-final loss against Murray.

Downcast: Raonic suffered a groin injury during his semi-final loss against Murray. Photo: Michael Dodge

A groin injury that left Milon Raonic incapacitated and contributed to his five-set defeat by Andy Murray in the Australian Open semi-final on Friday left the Canadian 13th seed devastated.

„It’s unfortunate,” a glum Raonic said. „It’s probably the most heartbroken I’ve felt on court.”

Murray won their four-hour encounter 4-6 7-5 6-7 6-4 6-2.

Raonic said he felt his adductor tighten mid-way through the third set, making it difficult for him to push off his leg. He had treatment off court early in the fourth set and played the game out, but even Murray noticed that he was limited and sympathised with him.

After losing his serve in the first game of the fifth set, Raonic uncharacteristically dashed his racquet into the court several times, breaking and incurring a code violation.

He admitted it was a result of frustration welling over. „That’s why I lashed out the way I did,” he said. „That was the whole frustration of everything. It’s not like myself. But sometimes it’s too much to keep in.”

Raonic said he had not asked the medics if he was risking graver injury by continuing, saying it was a major semi-final, so playing on was non-negotiable. „I couldn’t have cared less what happened on the court,” he said.

Raonic beat Roger Federer in a final in Brisbane before his rousing run to the semi-finals in the Australian Open, and was in career-best form. Now, he said, it had all been eclipsed.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/australian-open-2016-heartbroken-raonic-risked-it-all-in-injured-fightback-20160129-gmhipo.html#ixzz3yeKwnRWl
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

Forrás: http://www.smh.com.au/