British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu’s journey back to the court has been nothing short of inspirational after a hiatus due to surgeries on both wrists and her ankle last April. Despite recent concerns over her fitness, the 2021 US Open champion is primed for a triumphant return, according to former British No. 1 Laura Robson.
Raducanu’s comeback took a significant step forward with a successful return to the WTA Tour in Auckland, where she notched a victory in her opening match and delivered an encouraging performance against world No. 23 Elina Svitolina.
Amidst doubts raised by her withdrawal from warm-up matches ahead of the Australian Open, Laura Robson, who has been closely observing Raducanu’s preparations at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in London, expressed confidence in the 21-year-old’s readiness to shine once again.
“Everyone who has been at the NTC over the last couple of months knows how hard she has been working on and off the court,” Robson affirmed. “It has been a huge slog in the gym as well as trying to get that match fitness back, so you never know how it’s going to go when you go off to a tournament.”
Robson highlighted Raducanu’s aggressive play during recent training sessions, noting that it resembled the style that propelled her to US Open glory over two years ago. Despite falling short against Svitolina, Robson emphasized the positive signs in Raducanu’s game and her ability to attack shots without feeling pain.
“She was so close against Svitolina. Elina is hitting bigger than ever from the back of the court. It is something she knew she needed to do when she came back to compete with the best,” Robson commented.
Reflecting on Raducanu’s journey back to the court, Robson drew parallels with her own experiences in rehabilitation, stating, “After you spend that much time off the court, you always think let’s get back to the basics, which is what I always used to think after months and months of rehab.”
As Raducanu gears up for her Australian Open campaign, the tennis world eagerly awaits to witness the young star’s resilience, determination, and the magic that captured hearts at the US Open in 2021.
Emma Raducanu in 2024
Currently the world no.299, Emma played her last match on the 4th of January when she lost to world no.23 Elina Svitolina 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 6-1 in the 2nd round in Auckland (draw).
Currently, during this year Raducanu has achieved a 1-1 record.