Milos Raonic
He rewrote Canadian tennis history with a thunderous serve, becoming the first from his nation to crack the world's top three and reach a Wimbledon final.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Canadian tennis player·Birthday: December 27·Millennials
Biography
Milos Raonic announced his arrival on the tennis scene not with subtlety, but with a sonic boom. His serve, one of the fastest and most precise the sport has seen, became a weapon that flattened opponents and reshaped expectations for Canadian athletes. Before his era, a Canadian man in a Grand Slam final was unthinkable; Raonic made it a reality at Wimbledon in 2016, pushing Andy Murray in a straight-sets battle. His systematic, power-based game propelled him to a world No. 3 ranking, a historic high for a Canadian man. While a relentless series of injuries curtailed what many believed was a trajectory toward a major title, his impact was indelible. He proved a player from Canada could not only compete with the elite but also intimidate them, paving the way for the country's subsequent tennis boom.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Milos was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Milos Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Milos's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 3 in 2016, the highest ever for a Canadian male tennis player.
- Reached the final of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, the first Canadian man to play in a Grand Slam singles final in the Open Era.
- Won eight ATP Tour titles, including the 2013 Thailand Open and the 2014 Washington Open.
- Led Canada to its first-ever Davis Cup final in 2019, where they finished as runners-up.
Did You Know?
He started playing tennis at age eight after his family moved to Canada from Montenegro.
His fastest recorded serve is 155 mph (249.4 km/h), one of the fastest in history.
He is an avid fan of the NBA's Toronto Raptors and is often seen at their games.
He was coached for several years by former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek.
“I don't think you can ever be satisfied. Satisfaction is the death of desire.”
