Emma Raducanu expresses a sense of rejuvenation as she gears up to compete in the upcoming Auckland Classic following surgeries on her ankle and wrist.
At just 21 years old, the player’s current world ranking is 298th. She was sidelined for a large part of the previous season due to surgeries on her wrists and left ankle. Since her defeat against Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart in April, Raducanu has not competed on the WTA Tour.
“I feel like I’ve been reborn in a sense. I feel rejuvenated, prepared, content, and enthusiastic,” stated Raducanu. “In general, I have a positive and lighter outlook.”
Raducanu will be coming back to Auckland with a safeguarded ranking, one year after leaving the event in tears due to rolling her ankle. She stated, “I believe that for the next two years after the US Open, I may have felt a bit more pressure, but now I feel completely rejuvenated.”
In July 2022, Raducanu achieved her highest world ranking of No 10. However, she was not granted a wildcard for the Australian Open that starts on 14 January. Instead, she will have to qualify for the tournament, similar to how she qualified for and won the title at Flushing Meadows in 2021.
The previous top-ranked player from Britain has not advanced beyond the second round of a major tournament since winning in New York. However, she is content to be healthy and ready to compete in New Zealand starting on Monday, following several surgeries.
She expressed her gratitude for not having multiple casts on her body and being able to move around freely, shower, and do everyday tasks like fixing her own hair. She is thrilled to be back on the court.
Osaka prepared for comeback, both on and off the court.
Before her highly anticipated comeback to tennis at the upcoming Brisbane International, Naomi Osaka expressed feeling more assured in her identity as an individual.
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.
Ignore the advertisement for the newsletter.
after newsletter promotion
“I now have a stronger sense of confidence,” Osaka stated. “In the past, I was hesitant to engage in conversations with other players and had built a barrier between us. However, I have noticed that I am now more open to interacting with others, which is a great feeling.”
The tennis player, Osaka, has openly discussed her struggles with depression and anxiety. She also mentioned feeling anxious about the physical challenges of returning to competitive tennis. “I didn’t feel like myself. It was like I was driving the wrong car,” she expressed.
“I have put in a lot of effort and taken small steps to reach where I am today,” stated Osaka. She will face Tamara Korpatsch in her first match on Monday. “I would not have come here if I didn’t feel prepared. I did not want to let down the people who were looking forward to my return, and I did not want to let myself down.”
Source: theguardian.com
