Emma Raducanu of the United Kingdom said she feels reborn as she prepares to compete in the Auckland Classic next week after undergoing ankle and wrist surgery.
The 21-year-old missed much of 2023 due to wrist and ankle surgeries, but she will return to Auckland with a protected ranking a year after she abandoned the competition.
In a way, I feel reborn. “I feel revitalized, prepared, happy, and excited,” Raducanu told reporters on Saturday.
Raducanu presently ranks 298th in the world, down from a career-high of 10 in July 2022.
She did not get a wildcard for the Australian Open, which begins on January 14 and will have to follow in the footsteps of her 2021 Flushing Meadows triumph, when she became the first player in the Open Era to win a major after qualifying.
She stated that she was no longer burdened by the expectations that followed her success in New York
Overall, I’m feeling more optimistic and lighter. “I think I felt a little heavier on my shoulders for two years after the US Open, but now I feel completely fresh,” Raducanu remarked.
Emma Raducanu has not advanced past the second round of a Grand Slam since her Flushing Meadows victory and has received some criticism, but she is pleased to be fit and eager to fight again.
She continued, “It’s nice not to have three casts on you.” So simply going around and showering, doing things you value, like being able to wash your hair.
I’m simply glad to be back on the pitch. The Auckland Classic will get underway on Monday.
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Emma Raducanu Playing style
Raducanu is primarily a baseline player who plays aggressively. She gets to first base swiftly and is adept at redirecting power down the line.
Her two-handed backhand, rated as “world-class” by former British No. 1 Anne Keothavong, is her greatest groundstroke.
Raducanu can hit her backhand one-handed with a slice to break up rallies and disturb her opponent’s rhythm, although she seldom does so.
Raducanu possesses a powerful forehand that is more unpredictable than her backhand. Her serve is powerful, reaching 110 mph (180 km/h), and she possesses a steady ball toss and serve posture.
Raducanu’s most successful serve is a wide, sliced serve, which she utilized in the US Open in 2021.
Raducanu’s second serve is often delivered at a faster pace than the Women’s Tennis Association average, at 93 mph 150 km/h, allowing her to play offensively even if her first serve is missed.
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