Milos Raonic is refusing to blame injury for his straight sets quarter-final exit from the Australian Open.
The world No.3 crashed out with veteran Spaniard Rafael Nadal carving out a 6-4 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 victory on Rod Laver Arena.
The Canadian wasn't able to exert the same service pressure on the veteran Spaniard, with his adductor causing trouble.
Raonic took an injury break and left the court when up 3-2 in the second set, returning with his right upper thigh strapped, after telling the trainer he couldn't "push up".
He said it was the fourth time in the last 12 months he had suffered a similar injury, also needing an injury time-out during last year's Australian Open semi-final loss to Andy Murray.
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He had surgery back in 2011 on his hip but wasn't sure if it was related.
Raonic said it flared again during the Brisbane International, when he bowed out in the semi-finals, earlier this month.
"I damaged in Brisbane and I was healing that before this tournament," the 26-year-old said.
"I got it to pretty good shape but we still had to monitor it.
"Then today, I guess I hurt another aspect of it similar to the last two, but not by any means that serious."
Raonic has also battled the flu during his time in Melbourne.
But he didn't feel injury or illness were to blame for his loss.
"He took the match to me," Raonic said of Nadal.
"He played better than I did."
