MONTREAL – Milos Raonic’s return to the tennis courts lasted one match.

Canada’s top player lost 7-6 (1), 7-6 (1) to 36-year-old Ivo Karlovic in a battle of big servers in the second round of the US$4.1 million Rogers Cup on Tuesday night.

Raonic, the eighth seed, was in his first match since Wimbledon in June. He had surgery to fix a pinched nerve in a foot in May.

“I think it’s a factor,” Raonic said of his inactivity. “Right now I’m just trying to get in as many matches as I can, sort of get that competitive comfort back.

“Things are going to work out when you play a few matches.”

Raonic said his foot held up fine, but he still doesn’t feel he is in top form.

“It’s been just sort of my back. I think maybe subconsciously still protecting my foot, compensating,” he said.

The defeat left Vasek Pospisil as the only Canadian left in the draw of either the men’s or women’s Rogers Cups. Raonic reached the final the last time the men’s Rogers Cup was in Montreal in 2013.

“Yeah, it’s very disappointing,” said Raonic, of Thornhill, Ont. “I wish I could have done better today, given myself an opportunity to do better in the next round, just give myself a chance to progress.”

“You take them as they come. A poor week this week doesn’t mean it’s a poor week next week.”