After a tumultuous 2023 filled with injuries, Emma Raducanu is ready to make her much-anticipated return to the tennis court. The former U.S. Open champion, who missed a significant portion of the year due to surgeries on her wrists and ankle, is excited to start anew at the Auckland Classic. As she prepares for the tournament, Raducanu describes herself as feeling “reborn” – a sentiment that echoes her revitalized mindset and determination.
Once ranked as high as No. 10 in July 2022, Raducanu has since experienced a sharp decline in her ranking, currently sitting at World No. 298. Her absence from the court for most of 2023 caused this drop, and she was even denied a wildcard entry into the upcoming Australian Open, which starts on January 14. However, Raducanu is no stranger to adversity, as evidenced by her remarkable run at the 2021 Flushing Meadows where she triumphed as the first player in the Open Era to win a major tournament after going through the qualifying rounds.
Prior to her injury-ridden period, Raducanu admits that she felt burdened by the weight of expectations following her U.S. Open victory. However, she now expresses a sense of liberation and lightness. She reveals, “Overall, I’m feeling positive and lighter. I think that for two years after the U.S. Open, I felt maybe a bit more weight on my shoulders, but now I feel completely fresh.” This newfound freedom from expectations allows Raducanu to approach her comeback with renewed enthusiasm.
Despite her early success, Raducanu has faced her fair share of criticism, particularly regarding her inability to progress past the second round of a Grand Slam tournament since her Flushing Meadows triumph. However, the young British tennis star remains unfazed by the naysayers. She acknowledges the criticism but emphasizes her gratitude for being fit and ready to compete once again. Raducanu’s resilience shines through as she shares, “It’s nice not to have three casts on you. So just moving around and showering, [doing] everything you really appreciate, being able to do your own hair, stuff like that. I’m just happy to be back playing.”
The Auckland Classic marks the beginning of Raducanu’s journey back into the competitive tennis scene. With her newfound perspective, she approaches this tournament with a fresh outlook and determination. As she steps onto the court, Raducanu embodies the spirit of rebirth, ready to once again showcase her talent and resilience to the world.
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