Emma Raducanu stated that she feels like she has been given a new start as she gets ready to participate in the upcoming Auckland Classic following surgeries on her ankle and wrist, having previously won the US Open.
The 21-year-old is now ranked 298th in the world, having missed much of last season after operations on both wrists and her left ankle. Raducanu has not played on the WTA Tour since April, when she lost to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart.
“I feel like I’ve been reborn. I feel rejuvenated, prepared, joyful, and enthusiastic,” stated Raducanu. “Overall, I have a positive and carefree outlook.”
Raducanu will return to Auckland with a protected ranking a year after she exited the event in tears having rolled her ankle. She added: “I think that for two years after the US Open I felt maybe a bit more weight on my shoulders, but now I feel completely fresh.”
In July 2022, Raducanu achieved her highest world ranking of No 10. She did not receive a wildcard for the Australian Open starting on 14 January and will have to qualify for the tournament, just as she did during her remarkable victory at Flushing Meadows in 2021.
The previous top-ranked British player has not advanced beyond the second round of a major tournament since winning in New York. However, she is excited to be healthy and back in competition in New Zealand starting on Monday following multiple surgeries.
She expressed, “It’s a relief to not have three casts on. Being able to move around freely and take a shower, do everyday tasks like styling my own hair, makes me truly grateful. I am thrilled to be back on the playing field.”
Osaka is prepared to come back, both on and off the tennis court.
Before her highly anticipated return to tennis at the upcoming Brisbane International, Naomi Osaka expressed her increased confidence in her own identity.
Osaka won four grand slam titles, including two at the Australian Open, before taking a break to prioritise her mental health. The 26-year-old last competed on the WTA Tour in late September 2022 and gave birth to a daughter in July this year.
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Osaka expressed that she has gained more self-assurance. She admitted to previously avoiding conversations with other players and building a barrier between them. However, now she finds herself engaging with others and finds it a positive experience.
Osaka, who has spoken openly about dealing with depression and anxiety, added that she had felt nervous about the physical demands of returning to elite tennis. “I wasn’t in my own body. I was driving the wrong car, if that makes sense,” she said.
“I have put in a lot of effort and taken small steps to reach where I am today,” stated Osaka, as she prepares to face Tamara Korpatsch in her first match on Monday. “I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t feel prepared. I didn’t want to let down those who were looking forward to my return, and I didn’t want to let myself down either.”
