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Stressed Raonic laments nerves after US Open exit

Attempting to piece together what went wrong at the US Open, dejected fifth seed Milos Raonic said he was his own worst enemy on Wednesday.

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What promised so much ended prematurely for Raonic, who was stunned by Ryan Harrison 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 7-5 6-1 in the second round at Flushing Meadows.

After winning the opening set, the Wimbledon runner-up looked out of sorts as he struggled physically in warm New York conditions.

Raonic received medical treatment on his wrist in the second set and asked if injuries contributed to his shock loss, the Canadian replied: "No. Cramping."

Pressed on what triggered the cramps, he said: "A little bit of stress. I don't think hydration was an issue. I think I always take that precaution.

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"Probably just nerves and stress, a mental sort of over-exuberance rather than - probably more than it should.

"I was my own worst enemy today. I tried the best I could to find my way out of it. My body didn't let me."

Raonic added: "I think I didn't start off well in the match. I started off feeling a little bit heavy, which has happened to me before. You sort of get through the first set. You pull that one out and you sort of start to relax a little bit. I didn't do that today.

"I just sort of compounded the stress. I kept trying to force the shots. I was hesitating mentally on the shots. I just felt a little bit a step slow.

"The sort of expectation of pressure on myself to get out of that situation like I normally would in a situation like that, like happened to me in the beginning of Wimbledon, I didn't do that. Then all that kind of forceful play caught up to me there in the end."

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