Matthew Akman, a Toronto finance executive and accomplished tennis player, remembers when he first met current Canadian phenom Milos Raonic.

He had been asked to have a hit with the 13-year-old player and they met at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club.

"Out came this already five-foot-10 string bean who had promise and not a lot more at the time," Akman recalled in a recent interview. "His game was still developing but what was already impressive was his enthusiasm and, even then, his unflappability. Despite the fact that he really couldn't play at my level yet, he certainly didn't show any lack of confidence."

Seven years later, they have become friends and Akman has spent hours on and off the court with Raonic.

"One of the things that struck me -- he would not only show up on time for practice, he was always early," Akman said. "I'd get to the club and he'd be sitting there at the front desk waiting nine times out of 10. He was there out of pure respect and consideration. That's part of who he is and his upbringing."

Akman, who played college tennis at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and more recently won the 2008 Canadian over-40 title, claims not to have been "terribly surprised" by the success that has taken Raonic's world ranking from No. 156 to No. 35 this year. He explained that about two years ago during a training trip to Europe, Raonic told him he was winning sets in practice against then top-20 player Marin Cilic of Croatia.

But even before that there was evidence that Raonic, of Thornhill, Ont., had something special.

"I've played with most of the good kids who grew up in Ontario over the last 15 years," Akman said. "What differentiated Milos was that even when I was still beating him a lot when he was about 16, there were days when he'd play at a level where there was just nothing I could do.

"His shots were so big it didn't matter how well I played. That's what you look for in a player who has real high-level pro potential."

Akman can talk shop about Raonic's ability to hit backhand down-the-line winners from deep in the court and how it was an early sign of his talent. And also about Raonic's awesome serve, saying, "when you have to be prepared for the 145 mile per hour bomb, and it comes at 110 with topspin on it instead, it's that much more difficult to deal with."

But what most impresses Akman, who works for Macqaurie Capital in downtown Toronto, is the person.

"Milos is one of the brightest and most intelligent young men I've met, and the farthest thing you could imagine from a dumb jock. As a professional on Bay Street, we see the cream of the crop of young professionals in high finance. He could stand up to the best of those guys on sheer brainpower. That's one of the qualities that really differentiates him as a person, and as an athlete."

Looking back on his time with Raonic, now 20, he has a favourite story.

"We had this regular game on weekends and one Sunday morning we went out to practice when he was 16. I said, 'So what did you get up to last night?' I figured here's a pretty popular kid who's probably out chasing girls or drinking beer with the guys. He said, 'Oh, it was incredible. I went online and I found this video, it was (Pete) Sampras's all-time top-50 aces. And I was watching it."'

Akman still laughs about it.

"This is how he was spending his Saturday night. That was one of the times I said to myself, 'You know what, this kid's actually got the potential to really make it."'

With the clay-court season beginning in earnest with the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday, he is optimistic about how Raonic -- who has been in Europe for more than a week training on red clay -- will fare.

"Milos has a very effective game for clay," Akman said. "He hits a heavy ball and his serve kicks up high. Having played with him on clay throughout his life, I can tell you personally that he is a very creative tennis player, which is a key element of success on clay. He's not just a basher. He has great spins and angles. So, I think he's going to surprise a lot of people."

Having recently been Raonic's player guest during the Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, Calif., Akman had the chance to catch up after all his 2011 success.

"He's the same guy," Akman said. "He's still very much got his feet on the ground and seems to be having a lot of fun. He's comfortable with the environment and knows he belongs at that level with those other guys."