Monday 11 July 2016 15:24, UK
Milos Raonic's coach is hopeful that John McEnroe will stay part of the Canadian's team for the long term.
Raonic hired the seven-time grand slam champion to help him for the grass-court season and the appointment paid immediate dividends, with the 25-year-old reaching the finals at both Queen's Club and Wimbledon.
Andy Murray proved too strong on both occasions, but Riccardo Piatti, who is the longest-serving member of Raonic's three-man coaching team, is optimistic about continuing to work with McEnroe.
"I hope so because it's good for everybody. John has great experience, he loves this game, he loves to work in a team and everybody wants him. First Milos wants that, and I hope he will continue the relationship with him," Piatti said.
Reflecting on the Wimbledon final, Piatti praised Murray and acknowledged his experience paid dividends but also noted that he believed Raonic had not yet realised his full potential.
"A lot of respect to Murray," added Piatti. "Murray is already at the top, he already made two finals at slams this year so a lot of credit to him.
"Andy is a very smart player. When Milos stayed back, he's moving, when Milos came forward, he came forward, so he knows a lot about that kind of game. That's his experience that Milos has not got.
"Milos needs to play many of those kinds of matches. He also needs to speak a lot with John, with Carlos (Moya), to understand much better in which way to use his potential."
Raonic says the experience of his first grand slam final has given him greater confidence to compete for tennis' biggest prizes in the future.
"I believe I definitely have that ability within myself," the Canadian said. "There's not a shadow of a doubt from myself. The question is, am I going to make the most of it when those opportunities arise?
"Nobody's going to give me those opportunities. I'm going to work extensively and really hard to give myself those opportunities.
"There's other guys that want it. I'm going to try to find every solution to every issue I may have, things I need to improve, things I need to get better at on a day-to-day basis to give myself that opportunity.
"That's what keeps me the most motivated. I think when that disappears, that constant day-to-day progress, I think the beauty of tennis will change to me."
