In May of 2021, Emma Raducanu, the sensational winner of the 2021 US Open, found herself at home, navigating the challenging aftermath of three surgeries within a mere 13 days. Two of these surgeries were dedicated to her wrists, prompting the 21-year-old tennis prodigy to adopt an unconventional method as part of her healing process.
Raducanu, sponsored by Porsche, revealed one peculiar yet effective ploy she employed during her recovery – immersing her hands in a bucket of rice for a staggering 75 minutes. This rice-based therapy is designed to aid in the healing of hands and wrists, simultaneously enhancing grip strength and forearm prowess.
“I have such high standards of myself. You need massive amounts of dedication. If you have that, that’s where you’re going to really go above and beyond,” Raducanu shared with Porsche, highlighting the unwavering commitment required in her journey back to the tennis court.
The rice exercises
Her recovery regimen wasn’t without its challenges, as she humorously recounted her rice-based exercises. “At one stage I was doing a lot of rice exercises, like hand in a bucket of rice, moving it around, and it was killing me. You’re just staring at the clock for the whole hour, like ‘get me out of here’. I don’t want to see rice again!”
Despite the arduous process, Raducanu expressed her gratitude for being pain-free on the court, acknowledging the significance of her rehabilitation efforts. “I truly realize how much I really missed it [tennis]. How grateful I am to be on the court playing pain-free. It’s an amazing feeling. And I really think that I can achieve whatever I want to.”
The road to recovery began before the 2022 US Open when Raducanu started grappling with wrist pain. Recognizing the necessity of surgical intervention and a substantial hiatus, she opted for the surgeries to address the lingering issue. “I knew for a while before I did the surgeries that I needed it. I couldn’t practice everything I wanted to because of the pain,” she revealed.
The enforced break from the sport, while physically challenging, provided Raducanu with a newfound appreciation for tennis. “One thing the time off has told me is I love the sport. After such a long break, you come back with so much more enthusiasm and hunger,” she explained, emphasizing the mental fortitude required during the hiatus.
Looking ahead, Raducanu is gearing up for her return to the grand stage, with the upcoming 2024 season featuring her in the opening match of the year’s first Grand Slam against American Shelby Rogers. “I think going back to Wimbledon will be really special for me. I love the huge crowds and big stadiums,” she added, eager to rekindle her love affair with the sport on the iconic grass courts.
As Raducanu steps back into the limelight, her journey stands as a testament to resilience, determination, and an unwavering love for tennis. Her unique approach to recovery, including the rice-bucket therapy, serves as an inspiration for athletes navigating their own paths to triumph over adversity.
Emma Raducanu in 2024
WWWLWWLWWL Currently the world no.296, the Brit played her last match on the 4th of January when she was overcome by world no.23 Elina Svitolina 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 6-1 in the 2nd round in Auckland (draw).
This season the Brit owns an overall 1-1 match record.
Emma Raducanu |
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