<P> Early in his career, Raonic was questioned about whether he would follow the example of Rusedski, the last prominent Canadian tennis player, who decided to represent Great Britain instead . Raonic declared that he would play for Canada . </P> <P> Raonic embraced his role as Canada's top singles player, intent on growing the game in Canada . He stated in 2010: "I want to make a difference in Canada with (my career). I feel if I were to achieve my goals it could make a great difference to the growth of tennis in Canada and help to produce more top players in the future ." Before a Davis Cup tie with Japan in 2015, he said: "I'm here because I want to be here . I don't have anybody telling me I need to be here . I want to succeed at this event, and I want to succeed representing Canada ." </P> <P> From 2010 to 2016, Canada competed in 16 Davis Cup ties . Raonic represented Canada in 11 of those ties, missing five due to injury: Ecuador in 2011, Japan in 2014, Belgium in 2015, and France and Chile in 2016 . Overall, Raonic has 16 match wins in 22 Davis Cup matches (14--5 in singles; 2--1 in doubles). He is one of the most successful players in Canadian Davis Cup history, tied for sixth in match wins overall and for third in singles match wins . </P> <P> Raonic made his Davis Cup debut in Bogota against Colombia in 2010 at the age of 19 . Raonic lost both of his singles matches (against Santiago Giraldo and Juan Sebastián Cabal), but won his doubles match partnered with Nestor, who was then the top ranked doubles player in the world . His first singles match victory came in Canada's next tie against the Dominican Republic, when he beat Víctor Estrella Burgos in five sets . This marked the first five set match of Raonic's career . Competing against Mexico in 2011, Raonic won three rubbers in a tie for the first time, beating both Manuel Sánchez and Daniel Garza in singles and partnering with Pospisil to win in doubles as well . </P>

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