Milos: Can You Hear Me Now?

World No. 3 Milos Raonic was left wondering whether one member of the press corps was fully engaged at the top of his pre-tournament Australian Open press conference in Melbourne Saturday. The Canadian was expecting to be asked about the addition of Richard Krajicek, but he was unprepared for how it went down.

Here’s the first question of the media conference:

Q. Why did you change your coach to Krajicek?

MILOS RAONIC: It was just a timing of how things went. I feel like for me to make the steps I want, especially forward, specifically with that focus, you have these two guys that move very well laterally. I don’t think I’m ever going to be the best guy from the baseline by any means, especially not against them. If I’m going to take it to them, it’s by coming forward. So I wanted to improve in that aspect.

But, here’s where it got weird. Second question…

Q. Why did you add Richard Krajicek to your staff?

MILOS RAONIC: That’s the same exact question.

Ever the gentleman, Raonic at least made the best of the situation, expanding on his original answer. His focus on moving forward is designed in part to improve his record against Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, the two players who have stopped him at the Australian Open the past two years.

“No, it’s really to help me be more efficient going forward. I believe you have these two guys that are phenomenal right now at the top of the game covering the baseline. It’s really hard to get by them, especially with the way they move. I can’t expect to move like they do. I think I’ve got to be at least 20, 25 pounds heavier than them. It’s going to be about moving forward.

“I think Richard could really help me in being more aggressive, more forward orientated, and more efficient when I’m able to get myself coming in.”

Raonic finished 2016 at a career-high No. 3 in the Emirates ATP Rankings after a strong showing at the ATP Finals in London, where he pushed Novak Djokovic to 7-6, 7-6 in the group stage and held match point against Andy Murray in the semi-finals. But after pushing Murray to five sets in the Melbourne semi-finals last year, Raonic has 720 points dropping after the Australian Open and is under pressure to stay ahead of No. 4 Stan Wawrinka and No. 5 Kei Nishikori.

Raonic, who fell to Grigor Dimitrov in his title defence in Brisbane in the first week of the season, will play shotmaker Dustin Brown in the first round.