His back woes finally under control, Milos Raonic prepares to finish the summer on the right note at the US Open

NEW YORK – Milos Raonic has had his moments at the US Open which, along with the Australian Open, figures to be the Grand Slam that most suits his game and where he can make the most noise.

But after nearly five months of physical woes that began with a nerve issue in his foot that eventually required surgery, the 24-year-old Canadian is short of match play. First, he missed the French Open because of the surgery. Then, in trying to get back for the grass court season, he found himself suffering various other physical issues related to compensating for the more fragile foot.

The summer hard-court season in the US has been a tough one. First he didn't defend his title at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., where he defeated countryman Vasek Pospisil in the final a year ago. Then came an early loss at his home-country Rogers Cup to fellow big server Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, in two tiebreaks. Then, a first-round loss to Spanish lefty Feliciano Lopez the following week in Cincinnati.

But for the last few days, after physio Claudio Zimaglia – who also is an osteopath – worked that area every which day, it has finally begun to loosen up.

And so Raonic takes on American Tim Smyczek – a solid player, a scrappy competitor – in the first round on Monday with a far better mindset.

Raonic has had some quality practice partners the last few days.

On Saturday, it was up-and-coming Croatian teenager Borna Coric.

Sunday, it was Serbian Dusan Lajovic. But the key to that practice was that it was shifted from the Grandstand, where it was originally scheduled, to Court 17 – a nice, intimate court on the other side of the US Open complex, and the court on which Raonic will meet Smyczek Monday afternoon.

The acoustics inside that bullring-style court are tremendous - Raonic's serve, already a boomer, sounds even more intimidating in there, which hopefully is an extra added component in his arsenal come Monday.

There were a lot of movements, stretching out wide, that Raonic laboured to do over the previous hard-court events. The last few days, he looked much more comfortable.

A year ago, Raonic wrapped things up in New York somewhere near 2:30 a.m., after an epic five-set match in the round of 16 against his great rival Kei Nishikori, the kind of match that gives "late night at the Open" its name. The previous year, it was another five-set defeat in the same round to France's Richard Gasquet. Before that, another fourth-round loss, this one to Andy Murray.

Raonic's potential draw is full of challenging opponents, possibly including a pair of veteran Spanish lefthanders in Fernando Verdasco and Lopez who have given him trouble in the past.

If he gets to the fourth round again this year, his potential opponent could be ... No. 8 seed Rafael Nadal.

But first things first.