Emma Raducanu beams during practice ahead of the Australian Open as she continues to ‘take it a day at a time’ in an effort to be fit for the Grand Slam – a week after leaving the court in tears with an ankle injury
- Emma Raducanu limped off court after exiting the ASB Classic in Auckland
- She sustained an ankle injury after slipping behind the baseline last week
- The 20-year-old still hope to be fit in time for the Australian Open first round
- The British No. 1 practiced Thursday ahead of her match with Tamara Korpatsch
Emma Raducanu practiced Thursday as she hopes to recover from an ankle injury in time to take to court at the first Grand Slam of the year.
The British No. 1 limped off court in tears after exiting the ASB Classic in Auckland when she slipped after making a sharp turn behind the baseline last week, putting her Australia Open hopes in jeopardy.
However, the 2021 US Open champion still headed to Australia in the hope of competing at next week’s tournament and appeared to offer a positive update as she practiced Thursday.
Emma Raducanu practiced Thursday as she hopes to to be recover from an ankle injury
The 20-year-old faces a race against time to recover for the the Australian Open next week
Raducanu was in tears after rolling her left ankle during a match in Auckland last week
Raducanu was seen putting in the work at a practice session ahead of her first-round match up on January 16.
The 20-year-old even appeared to be putting herself through her paces as she darted across court and stretched to meet the ball.
She also seemed to be putting pressure on the injured ankle as she squatted to make a shot on the baseline, as well as occasionally darting forward to meet the ball closer to the net.
The British No. 1 put in the work as she darted across court and stretched to meet the ball
She also seemed to be putting pressure on the injured ankle as she squatted to make a shot
Raducanu will face German World No. 74 Tamara Korpatsch in the first round of the Australian Open – on course to meet USA’s Coco Gauff in the second round.
After leaving the court in tears at the ASB Classic, she criticized what she saw as a slippery indoor court surface – being used because of heavy rain outside – suggesting that such a mishap was likely to happen in those conditions.
It was the seventh time in her short career that Raducanu has withdrawn from a tournament due to injury.
Raducanu, who had started her season with an impressive victory over Linda Fruhvirtova, headed to Melbourne last weekend and during an interview with Tennis Australia talked up her chances of appearing in the first major of 2023.
The 2021 US Open winner was all smiles as appeared to be making progress Thursday
Raducanu takes a break during practice before facing Tamara Korpatsch on January 16
‘It was really unfortunate to be honest last week,’ Raducanu said.
‘I was feeling great about my season and feeling really good with the preparation I did physically.
‘I just had an accident on the court, which I don’t know what I could have done to prevent that, so I’m just taking it a day at a time honestly and every single day try as best as possible to see and make progress. We’ll see.
‘Hopefully by Monday or whenever the tournament starts (for me) I’ll be OK and ready but we’re just taking it a day at a time and not trying to expect too much at this point.’
The grand-slam winner endured a frustrating 2022 after her US Open success in 2021 with a string of fitness issues affecting her first full campaign on the tour.
A wrist injury ended last season early for Raducanu but a hard-fought victory over Fruhvirtova ensured she made a positive start to the new year.
The 20-year-old made her Australian Open debut last January but exited in the second round following defeat to Danka Kovinic where she struggled with blister issues.
Advertisement