Short of match play, but feeling healthier, top Canadian Milos Raonic is ready for the Rogers Cup challenge

MONTREAL – Milos Raonic has been in Montreal for several days now, practicing and getting ready for his return to action at the Rogers Cup, in his first tournament since Wimbledon and only his third in the last three months.

The 24-year-old Canadian said that each day, he's feeling better physically than the previous one. But given his lack of match play the last few months, ever since Monte Carlo in early April when the nerve issue in his foot flared up and required surgery, he's going to have to rely on his weapons and his competitive instincts to get the job done.

Raonic practiced with Novak Djokovic Saturday morning at Uniprix Stadium. And in the afternoon, he sat down and talked about his return to action, the challenge of facing a big server – which he will in his first match – and how he's learning with experience to handle the demands of the home-court "advantage" at home in Canada.

Here's what he said.