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As the clay-court season gained traction at the Madrid Open in April, Britain’s top female tennis player, Emma Raducanu, was not in the best of spirits. At her pre-tournament press conference, she declined to interact with the reporters and gave brief and dismissive responses, much like her powerful two-handed backhand on the court.
She had a lot on her mind, which led her to withdraw from the tournament the following day due to an injury. She also announced that she would be taking a break from the tour until her injuries were fully healed. She had to undergo three surgeries, one on each hand and one on her left ankle. Her team initially hoped she would return by the end of the year.
In November, Raducanu, who is now 21 years old, made her return to competitive tennis after a week off in Auckland. This Tuesday in Melbourne, she will be back on the grand-slam stage as she faces Shelby Rogers. Since her win at the US Open in 2021, a lot has changed and the main inquiry surrounding her comeback is whether she can successfully solidify her place in the tour.
Injuries are a difficult aspect of being a professional athlete, causing the quickest players in the world to be unable to participate in their sport. The recovery process involves long days of rehabilitation and requires great patience as progress can be slow. Following her surgeries, Raducanu was largely immobile for two weeks and experienced a major setback upon returning to the court.
“I experienced injuries to both my wrists and ankle in quick succession, allowing me to take minimal time off,” stated Raducanu. “Each injury required two weeks of avoiding any strenuous activity. During this time, I used a scooter for mobility and was unable to text.”
Tennis can be quite challenging, but surprisingly, taking extended breaks can sometimes be advantageous. In the sport’s recent past, there have been numerous instances of players stepping away from the game and experiencing positive results upon their return.
Sloane Stephens made a comeback to win the 2017 US Open after taking a year off. The end of Roger Federer’s career was launched with his impressive Australian Open victory in the same year. Elina Svitolina also returned last year after a break from tennis in 2022 due to burnout from the demanding travel schedule. Taking a break from the intense world of professional tennis can help players regain a true love and appreciation for the sport.
A familiar face in Melbourne this week is Naomi Osaka, the two-time winner of the Australian Open, who took a 16-month hiatus from competing. In July, she welcomed her daughter, Shai.
“I have taken numerous breaks over the years. However, this most recent one was the one that truly made an impact. As an athlete, I have come to understand the value of time and how it should not be taken for granted. In the past, I was young and believed I could easily jump back into things whenever I wanted,” stated the 26-year-old.
Tennis player Ajla Tomljanovic, who reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2022, is currently making a comeback after a serious knee injury. She states that the injury has increased her determination. She reflects, “I believe it has only fueled my desire even more.” She also acknowledges that the experience has strengthened her emotionally, as rehabilitating from such an injury requires a stubborn mindset.
After being unable to play her sport, Raducanu shifted her focus to her rehabilitation while also finding joy in other aspects of her life. She reflects, “It really makes you see things in a different light. When you can’t even walk to the kitchen to grab a snack, you realize how much you took your body for granted. You don’t truly understand until you go through it yourself, no matter how many athletes tell you to be grateful and appreciate your health. It’s nice to hear and say, but it’s a different feeling when you actually experience it.”
While most top players have the benefit of gradually improving and adjusting to their increasing success step by step, for Raducanu everything changed overnight. By Madrid last year, her body had fallen apart and her ample sponsorship deals, coaching agreements and form were constantly scrutinised. On the court she played tense, defensive and error-strewn tennis. For the time being, though, she seems to be in a far better headspace.
Raducanu shared that she currently feels much lighter than she has in a while since the US Open. She described the feeling as not carrying a heavy burden and instead feeling content and joyful.
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Even though there are doubts about her physical condition, Raducanu has been practicing and had two training sessions with the top two British players on Friday. Katie Boulter, the British No. 1, expressed her admiration for Raducanu’s performance, stating that it is truly remarkable for her to already be playing at such a high level after her comeback.
Several hours later, Raducanu practiced with Jodie Burrage, the No. 2 player and a frequent training partner at the National Tennis Centre. Burrage had similar comments, stating that Raducanu was hitting the ball with great power and determination.
In Raducanu’s limited time as a professional, her frequent changes of coaches have attracted significant attention. Currently, she is being coached in Australia by Nick Cavaday, who has been working with her since she was 10 years old for a period of two years. However, the main focus of her career at the moment is whether her body is capable of enduring the physical demands of playing professional tennis.
Since joining the tour in 2021, she has had limited time without facing physical challenges before or during tournaments. As a junior player, Raducanu struggled to handle the physical demands without sustaining injuries, and this trend has continued throughout her professional career. Looking back, her victory at the US Open is even more impressive not only because she made history as the first player to win a grand slam tournament from the qualifying draw, but also because she was able to maintain her physical health during the intense three weeks.
Prior to her initial match against Rogers, Raducanu was questioned about her definition of success at this stage of her career. Rather than specifying a specific accomplishment or championship, she emphasized the importance of maintaining good health.
“I believe that my definition of success in the long run is to complete a full season, maintain good health, and consistently train week after week,” she explained. “I am confident in my abilities, but I recognize the need to continue improving and making my performance more consistent. I believe this will come with dedication in the gym, time on the court, and the ability to participate in tournaments without worrying about potential injuries.”
She shrugged and said, “To be honest, I believe my skill level is strong enough to consistently succeed with hard work.”
