MONTREAL - Rising star Milos Raonic is set to return to competitive tennis later this month when Canada plays Israel in a Davis Cup World Group playoff tie.
The hard-serving 20-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., has been out of action since suffering a hip injury at Wimbledon in June.
Raonic was named to the Canadian team Tuesday along with Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, B.C., and doubles star Daniel Nestor of Toronto. The Sept. 16-18 tie will be played at Canada Stadium in Ramat Hasharon, Israel.
"We have worked hard to reach this third round and we are very aware of what is at stake in this World Group playoff tie," Canadian captain Martin Laurendeau said in a release. "It is our goal this year and we are very motivated to overcome this last obstacle, but our task will be very difficult.
"We have gained a lot of confidence from our last two victories on the road which is going to be key for this next tie. I firmly believe that the players will lead us to victory in 10 days."
Canada has not played in the elite World Group since 2004 and hasn't made the playoffs since 2005.
Raonic is Canada's highest ranked singles player ever at No. 29. He quickly rose up the ranks this year after picking up his first ATP tournament victory in February at the SAP Open in San Jose.
Raonic suffered a hip injury in the second round at the All England Club and underwent surgery on July 5 in Vail, Colo. This will be his fifth official appearance with the Canadian team.
Nestor, meanwhile, made his Davis Cup debut in 1992. He holds the record for most total wins (43), doubles victories (28), and number of ties played (39) in Canadian Davis Cup history.
Pospisil qualified for the main draw of the U.S. Open last week and won his first career Grand Slam match with a first-round victory over Lukas Rosol. Pospisil recently reached a career-high No. 143 in the rankings.
Polansky has battled injuries this season and has dropped to No. 367 in the rankings.
