Emma Raducanu has said her spell out of the sport recovering from injury has “definitely reignited the fire” to compete ahead of her comeback at the ASB Classic in Auckland. The Brit required surgery on her ankle and both of her wrists in May, which left her sidelined for the majority of the 2023 season. She is now set to return in Auckland before attempting to qualify for the Australian Open.

Emma Raducanu believes she is a “better tennis player” now despite being out of action since April as she prepares to make her highly anticipated comeback
The Brit was forced to withdraw from the Madrid Open before her first-round match due to injury and subsequently underwent surgery on her ankle and both of her wrists.
That left Raducanu facing a frustrating spell on the sidelines but having ramped up her training both on the court and off, the 21-year-old believes she is in all-round better shape to return to the tour at the start of the new year.

Physically and tennis-wise in training and in practice over the last few weeks I’m hitting the ball really well,” Raducanu told Sky Sports. “I think I’m a better tennis player than I was actually before the break.
“I think the people around, at the LTA for example everyone can see that I’m training and playing really well.
“Physically, I’m pushing weight, I’m pushing things that I wasn’t pushing before, so I think in my body I actually have confidence in it, which is really nice. And tennis-wise I feel good too.

“It’s just about now putting it into a match, which is obviously completely different to practice. That part I couldn’t really replicate, you could do with sets but it’s never really the same feel.
“I know that will come in time though, as long as the level is there and improving.”

Raducanu admitted there were “a few hiccups” in her recovery but that her time away has “definitely reignited the fire” to compete with the world’s best once again.
The Brit famously came through three qualifying matches en route to lifting the US Open title in 2021, becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam in the Open era.

She faces a similar task if she is to lift the Australian Open, which gets underway on January 14 live on discovery+.
Raducanu isn’t in the main draw but is set to headline the qualifying event, which begins on January 8.
Before all that, though, she will make her first appearance in more than eight months at the star-studded ASB Classic in Auckland.

Reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff is in the field, as are Elina Svitolina and Caroline Wozniacki, but Raducanu insists she is “excited” to take on anyone as she plots her return to the top of the game.
“The field here in Auckland is extremely strong,” she added. “Match-wise it might take a while to just adjust to the feeling of the pre-match nerves or match fitness, tight points, big points, that sort of thing.
“It might take me a while but level-wise I feel really good. So I’m excited to play anyone. It doesn’t matter to me.
“I think the Tour was pretty interesting last year but from what I was told because I didn’t really follow it to be honest.
“Wimbledon was a bit too close for home for me. I had to go there for a few days for some commitments but other than that I stayed far away and the US Open as well.
“So I think I did take my time away but now I feel good, I feel refreshed.”

Emma Raducanu recently set foot in Auckland, New Zealand, to participate in the ASB Classic. She has already started gearing up for the tournament with an intense practice session to prep for her upcoming matches.

Raducanu has been out with an injury since April 2023. She only took part in five tournaments this season with her most recent appearance coming at the Stuttgart Open, where she was eliminated in the opening round by Jelena Ostapenko. However, the Brit underwent surgeries and is now back on track.

She is now making the most of the little time she has left before the ASB Classic kicks off on January 1 and runs until January 7. Recent pictures from an X (formerly Twitter) user show Raducanu sweating it out on the practice courts.

https://x.com/RaducanuNews/status/1740202182514004136?s=20

Emma Raducanu has received a wildcard for the WTA 250 tournament. The World No. 298 will be joined by the likes of 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff, former Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki, Elina Svitolina and Amanda Anisimova, among others.

“I think patience is a really important word for Emma Raducanu” – Tim Henman

Former British tennis pro Tim Henman is “excited” about his compatriot Emma Raducanu’s long-awaited comeback. Henman believes that if the youngster can stay injury-free in her first few tournaments, she could gain momentum.

“Yeah, it’s massively exciting to have [Emma] Raducanu coming back,” Henman told Eurosport. “I think it’s important that everybody around tennis who’s a fan, who’s excited to see Raducanu back on the court, manages their expectations.”

“I think if she could stay injury free and play a whole series of tournaments without any setbacks, I think that would be fantastic because there is no doubt about her ability. I mean, she’s an incredible tennis player. She’s working hard to build her physical resilience so that she can be out on court, be on tour and compete,” he added.

Henman then pointed out that the former US Open champion should take things slowly and be patient, considering she has a good 10 years ahead in her career.

“I think patience is a really important word for Raducanu herself, but also all the people that are excited to see her come back. She’s 21 years of age,” Henman said.

“She’s got the next 10 years in front of her. She just needs to build that foundation so that she can get out on tour and compete and show the undeniable talents that she has,” he added.