Emma Raducanu revealed that she was forced to completely turn her back on tennis during her lengthy injury absence last year.
The Brit underwent surgeries on both wrists and an ankle, missing the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open before returning to action in 2024, though has carefully managed her schedule this season.
The 21-year-old missed large portions of the campaign, including the French Open and the build-up to the US Open, where she was knocked out in the first round and rued that decision.
And the latest of her woes has come while competing in Asia. She strained ligaments in her foot during a Korea Open quarter-final against Daria Kasatkina on September 21. She has not played a professional game since then.
Unfortunately for Raducanu, she is well-versed in spending time on the treatment table. In a candid interview with HSBC, the Brit opened up on her injury torment and how it caused her to reject tennis until she could find a way back on the court.
“I was out for eight months and I had three surgeries and the rehab wasn’t as straightforward as everyone planned,” Raducanu said.
“Initially the return to play was only meant to be four months and it ended up being double because I came back a bit too quickly and then did more damage. So I think I also learned a lesson in patience and trying to rush things.
“In terms of coming back it takes a while to get up to the speed of the game. The match is different from practice as well and introduces unpredictability, so I think now I’m just more grateful for my health than results.
“When you’re on the sidelines watching everything go past you and yeah it was difficult, I just had to shut it off and I actually couldn’t watch anything.”
It remains to be seen when Raducanu will be back competing, having pulled out of the Hong Kong Open just days after announcing that she was ready to compete at the event, having already withdrawn from three tournaments in Asia.
She has since posted footage of her back in training, hitting balls in practice, using the exercise bike and working in the gym – positive news that the lingering issue could soon be behind her.
She will be hoping to make her comeback at the Billie Jean King Cup next month, where Great Britain will begin their campaign against defending champions Canada in the quarter-finals on November 15.
Raducanu shared that she is “doing what I can” in order to win the race to be fit, but has been down this road after feeling the need to completely switch off from tennis last year.
