Novak Djokovic, the current world No. 1, has displayed sportsmanship by reaching out to Emma Raducanu, currently ranked 300 places lower. Raducanu made a triumphant return from a long-term layoff, defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse in New Zealand.
Reposting Raducanu’s celebratory photo on his Instagram story, Djokovic warmly captioned it with “Welcome back,” expressing his pleasure at seeing the former US Open champion back on the court.
Raducanu’s victory sets the stage for a challenging second-round encounter against former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina. Despite the tough matchup, Raducanu embraces the opportunity, stating, “I’m excited to test myself against one of the best. I have nothing to lose.”
Acknowledging the difficulty of the first match after a hiatus, Raducanu is eager to experience the unique adrenaline of competitive play. She recognizes the need to elevate her game against Svitolina, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist.
Reflecting on her mixed emotions after the comeback win, Raducanu describes the experience as “weird,” expressing uncertainty about her feelings during and after the match.
As Raducanu navigates her return to competitive tennis, Djokovic’s encouraging message adds a touch of camaraderie and highlights the mutual respect within the tennis community. Fans eagerly await the outcome of Raducanu’s clash with Svitolina, anticipating a thrilling contest between the emerging talent and the seasoned competitor.
Novak Djokovic in 2024
Currently the world no.1, Djokovic played his last match on the 3rd of January when he was overcome by world no.12 Alex De Minaur 6-4 6-4 in the quarter in Australia (draw)
.Presently, during this year Novak has an overall 2-1 win-loss record.
Djokovic is scheduled to compete next at the Australian Open (Australian Open). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 14th of January.
Raducanu in Auckland, ranking, and results in 2024
Currently ranked no.301, Emma has managed to achieve an overall 1-0 win-loss record in 2024. Emma is playing in Auckland where she managed to beat the world no.134 Elena Gabriela Ruse 6-3 4-6 7-5.
Emma Raducanu will square off with the world no.25 Elina Svitolina in the 2nd round on Thursday at 6:30 pm on Stadium. They have never played each other so far in top events.