Emma Raducanu revealed that her rehab process didn’t go smoothly after multiple surgeries and that at one point she couldn’t watch tennis because it was mentally too difficult.
After appearing in just five tournaments through the first four months of last year’s season, the 21-year-old posted a selfie from a hospital bed on May 1st, 2023, and announced that she was set to surgically repair both wrists and an ankle. At the time, the British tennis star only confirmed she would miss Wimbledon but didn’t say anything regarding the US Open or the rest of 2023.
Emma Raducanu© Emma Raducanu/Instagram – Fair Use
Ultimately, Raducanu managed to launch her comeback in the first week of this season in Auckland.
“I was out for eight months and I had three surgeries and the rehab wasn’t as straightforward as everyone planned. 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,” the 2021 US Open champion told HSBC.
“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.”
How Raducanu looked after returning from three surgeries?
While the former world No. 10 was sidelined last year, many were posing just one question – will the surgeries be a success and resolve the constant pain and discomfort that she felt over an extended period. And early in her comeback, the 21-year-old didn’t appear to be in any pain or discomfort and it looked like she was finally fully healthy.
However, Raducanu did experience some issues in the first couple of months – illnesses and minor setbacks – but nothing that was related to her past woes. And the British tennis star being healthy and evidently improving and developing her game was the most encouraging sign.
Emma Raducanu© Korea Open/Instagram – Fair Use
In the past, she constantly dealt with a left or right wrist issue and that very negatively impacted her play but also limited her practice and intensity and forced her to several times take breaks from tennis.
Raducanu is again injured but it’s not a wrist issue
After avoiding any serious injuries in the first eight months of the season, the 2021 US Open champion suffered her first real setback last month when she injured ligaments in her ankle in Seoul. It was a crushing blow for the Briton, who arrived in Asia with the intention of playing four to five tournaments there.
“I think the rest of the year, as long as I’m healthy I’m going to try and finish the season and play as many matches as I can. It’s something I’m really light on since the grass through the D.C. period. I’ve not played many points, even in practice. So today, as grueling as it was, I think I had three hours of match experience, which can only aid me going into the next few weeks. For me now, I just want to play matches and, in the meantime, do a little bit of work on my game where I can,” Raducanu said in Seoul before an injury ended her campaign in the quarterfinal.
After the former world No. 10 retired injured to Daria Kasatkina in Seoul, there was hope it wasn’t anything too serious and that she would be able to play the following week in Beijing. But it didn’t take long before she confirmed that she would need some time to recover.
“Hello, last week in Seoul I sprained some ligaments in my foot which unfortunately need some more time to heal (sad emoji). It means I can’t play in Beijing but I hope to be back competing as soon as I can,” the 21-year-old announced on September 23rd.
Following her withdrawals from Beijing, Wuhan, Ningbo and Guangzhou, Raducanu posted a clip confirming she would play at this week’s Hong Kong Open. But then last week, the Briton announced she wouldn’t be ready for Hong Kong either but confirmed her participation at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals between November 13-20.
“Hellooo, I’m sorry to say that I will not be able to play in Hong Kong next week. Whilst my foot is making good progress, I need a little more time before I am match fit. I hope to be able to come back and play this tournament in the future! In the meantime, I am doing what I can to be ready for BJKC,” Raducanu announced last Tuesday.