British tennis sensation and the surprise 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu has come a long way down. She is currently ranked 133rd in the world following hand and ankle surgeries. “I’ve been very high and very low,” as she told The Times. But a comeback is definitely on the cards.
Recently photographed working out in a gym, she said on her Instagram that it was ‘nice to be reintroduced’ to the equipment after several months away from physical exertion due to her injuries.
She was forced to sit out the French Open and Wimbledon after surgery on her hands and her ankle.
She had been ailing earlier, too. But, despite suffering from ailments, she won five out of 10 matches in 2023, including an amazing run to the BNP Paribas Open fourth round at Indian Wells, where she lost to defending champion Iga Swiatek in March.
Raducanu’s spirit remained unbroken despite a difficult defeat against Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart in April.
However, she was forced to withdraw from the Madrid Open later in April due to an injury on her right hand. That’s when she decided on surgery.
“I tried my best to manage my pain and play through it”, but she couldn’t any more, she said, speaking from her hospital bed in May.
She missed most of the clay and grass court seasons due to injuries, which caused her ranking to slip to 133rd. She also split with her coach, Sebastian Sachs, which added to the difficulties. Nevertheless, she is optimistic about the future.
Emma Raducanu now at what stage of recovery?
The stubborn 20-year-old tennis star is recovering well. Her engrossing films demonstrate how she uses red light treatment to promote muscle repair and lessen inflammation while she trains assiduously.
Here’s a look back at her recent record.
| Tournament | Result | Opponent |
|
Citi Open (Quarter-finals) (August 2022) |
Lost 7-6, 6-1 | Liudmila Samsonova |
| Canadian Open (1st Round) (August 2022) | Lost 7-6, 6-2 | Camila Giorgi |
| Western & Southern Open (August 2022) | Defeated Serena Williams 6-3, 6-4 | Serena Williams |
| Defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-5 | Victoria Azarenka | |
| Lost to Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 | Jessica Pegula |
Now she is hoping to do better and wow the world again on the WTA tour though she is likely to miss the US Open.
Emma Raducanu’s agent, Max Eisenbud, expects her to win more Grand Slams.
Speaking to The Tennis Podcast, he said: “You don’t just accidentally win the US Open the way she did, you have to be great to do what she did.
“And I think she will settle and things will get more calm for her and I think she’ll make more deep runs and I think that she’ll win more Grand Slams when it’s all said and done.”
He added: “Do I think that she will be in the top five of the world for 20 years?
“I don’t think so, I don’t think she’s that, but I think she will win more Grand Slams, I think she will compete to be in the top when things settle down.”
Tennis legend Billie Jean King still marvels at the way Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open.
“When Emma Raducanu won, it was fantastic,” she told Sky Sports. “Just think about this, she won 10 matches in a row, she did not lose a set. She won every single one of those 10 matches in straight sets. I don’t think anyone comes close to that.
“As she gets older, no matter what happens to her life she’ll always have this US Open title – always and forever. And the way she did it: Wow! It’s amazing.”