Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Milos Raonic is facing a fitness fight for 2016 after his bad back flared and forced the Canadian to end his IPTL participation early.

Raonic lost much of the second half of the ATP season just ended due to the problem, dropping his ranking out of the top 10 and down to 14th. He last played on the ATP in mid-October, losing in the Shanghai third round to Rafael Nadal.

The soon-to-be 25-year-old got that defeat back in an IPTL exhibition in Manila as he beat the Spaniard in what proved to be his last match before doctors advised him to take total rest. With three weeks or so until the start of the 2016 campaign, that’s not a great deal of time.

The 2014 Wimbledon semi-finalist won his only 2015 tile in St Petersburg in the autumn after failing to get past the quarter-finals at any grand slam event, losing in the third rounds of Wimbledon and the US Open after skipping Roland Garros due to injury.

Manila IPTL organizers are now lacking a draw card for the remaining fortnight of their Asian season. “It’s a big blow considering that Milos was probably the MVP of the Manila leg,” said Manila Mavericks team co-owner Jean- Henri to the Philippine Star.

“Milos has been troubled by back spasms and getting therapy. The recommendation is complete rest to be prepared for next year. He would’ve wanted to continue but Milos is out of the IPTL for the rest of the season as his doctors insist on total rest.”

Raonic only recently sacked half of his coaching team, doing away with Ivan Ljubicic, who landed handily on his feet this week as coach to Roger Federer. Under ideal circumstances, Raonic is due to open the upcoming campaign on January 4 in Brisbane with the Australian Open starting January 18.

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.