Emma Raducanu decided to concentrate on improving her fitness instead of competing in this year’s French Open qualification.
She had to go through the qualifiers because her ranking was insufficient to grant her direct entry into the competition and she was not given a wildcard. The Briton withdrew before new matches were scheduled to begin, even though she had originally been agreed to compete in the qualifying draw.
Soeaking to Times tennis journalist Stuart Fraser. Raducanu says, “It’s important for me to keep laying on the foundations and I will use the time to do a healthy block before the grass and subsequent hard court seasons to give myself a chance to keep fit for the rest of the year.”
Since being defeated in the first round of the Madrid Open by Maria Lourdes Carle, Raducanu has not taken part in a competitive match yet again.
Improving athletic fitness
After leading Great Britain to victory over France in the Billie Jean King Cup, she had such a great start to the clay-court season. However, the straight-sets loss was another shattering blow to her confidence. Despite the recent playing outcomes, she declared, “Tennis-wise I have improved because I feel like I am playing the best tennis of my career and my life.”
Raducanu has struggled with consistency and fitness since her remarkable victory at the 2021 US Open at the age of 18, and she has failed to advance past the second round of a grand slam.
She had surgery in May 2023 on both wrists and one ankle, and she missed Wimbledon and the French Open that same year in order to heal.
Still ranked 212th in the world, she had intended to use this season to regain her playing form. The main draw of the French Open will begin on May 26. Raducanu is still listed as the third alternate, so if three players cancel, she might still be able to compete.
Cover Photo: IG
Source: CNN