December 30, (THEWILL) – British tennis sensation, Emma Raducanu, is set to make her long-awaited return to competition next month after being sidelined with injuries since April. The 21-year-old believes she has improved as an all-round player during her recovery period.
Despite not playing a competitive match in over eight months, Raducanu claims she is hitting the ball better than ever in training. She has also focused on improving her physical conditioning, pushing herself harder than before her injuries.
Raducanu’s first tournament back will be the ASB Classic in Auckland, starting on January 2. She faces a tough field including reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff. However, Raducanu says she is simply excited to compete again after her time away reignited her passion.
It may take Raducanu some time to adjust to the pressures of the pro tour, but her level of play in practice has impressed coaches. She will now need to quickly regain match sharpness with the Australian Open qualifiers beginning on January 8.
Nonetheless, the Brit, who shocked the tennis world by winning the 2021 US Open, remains upbeat. She used her time off productively and believes she can return even stronger in 2024.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
