The recent withdrawal of British tennis player Emma Raducanu from the Auckland WTA event due to a back injury has raised concerns regarding her preparedness for the upcoming Australian Open. Raducanu, currently ranked 56th in the world and unseeded in Melbourne, cited a "back niggle" as the reason for her inability to compete against Robin Montgomery . This incident marks yet another chapter in Raducanu's ongoing battle with injuries that have plagued her career since she won the US Open in 2021. The timing of this setback is particularly critical as it leaves her without any match practice heading into one of tennis's most prestigious tournaments .
The 2021 US Open champion sprained ligaments in her foot in Seoul in September and could only play three further matches last season.
She won them all, on national duty for Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, but will now head into the first Grand Slam of the season with no match practice.
Raducanu suffered fewer injury problems last season, but only played 10 matches after Wimbledon, and also missed March's Miami Open with a back issue.
She has hired the renowned fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who has been in Auckland with her.
Although she had previously been considering competing at the Adelaide Open next week, Raducanu will instead travel to Melbourne where she faces a race against time to be at full fitness for the Australian Open, which begins on 12 January.
“Tried my best to be ready,” Raducanu said in a statement. “I love Auckland and the fans here but unfortunately picked up a back niggle and won’t be ready in time.”
Injury setbacks continue to hinder Raducanu as she tries to rebuild her ranking and re-establish herself at the top end of the sport. She recently hired the renowned fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura, who is with her in New Zealand, on a full-time basis in an attempt to strengthen her body and better withstand the rigours of professional tennis.
As it happens, Raducanu is not the only high-profile Briton to find their off-season disrupted by niggling injuries. Jack Draper has also been struggling with a hip issue and was forced to pull out of the United Cup team event in Sydney.
While these two battle through their rehab, other players have been making an encouraging start to the new season – which began on December 27, the earliest date on record.
As Raducanu navigates this challenging period, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how she adapts and responds both physically and mentally as she prepares for future competitions. While setbacks are common in sports, consistent management of health issues is critical for sustaining performance at elite levels. The coming weeks will be pivotal for Raducanu as she seeks to regain form and confidence ahead of what could be a defining moment in her burgeoning career.
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