Raducanu and her most honest confession: “I am more grateful for my health than for..”

Emma Raducanu continues to navigate a complex sports career in which all eyes and spotlights constantly shine on her. Even during periods when she is not on the court, not competing in any WTA tournament, the British player still has numerous sponsorship commitments and press engagements where she speaks naturally and honestly, trying to convey where she stands on a very challenging journey.

Her last tournament was in Seoul, South Korea, where she played well until an injury forced her to withdraw prematurely in the quarterfinals. A sprain of some ligaments in her right foot was the diagnosis that has kept her off the courts since then, unable to participate in any other tournaments of the current Asian tour. New discomfort, lack of continuity… some might think that this situation is putting the British player against the ropes mentally, but nothing could be further from the truth.

In a conversation with HSBC, one of her main sponsors, Emma detailed that the real ordeal took place in 2023, and that this latest setback has by no means dampened her spirit to return to the top. “In 2023, I underwent three surgeries and was out of the circuit for eight months. Moreover, the recovery was not as fast as we had hoped. Initially, the plan was to return four months after the surgery, but I ended up needing double the time because I returned to the courts too soon and caused further damage. I think that taught me a lesson, a lesson about patience and not trying to rush processes,” confessed the British player.

THE MENTAL TOLL OF NOT BEING ON THE COURT

If there’s one thing Raducanu has emphasized for quite some time, it’s patience and the amount of time she will need to consistently showcase her best form again. “When you come back to the circuit, you need time to reach the level that this sport demands. Matches are different from trainings, introduce an element of unpredictability, so right now I am much more grateful for my health than my results. When you’re sidelined, watching everything pass by… it was tough. I had to isolate myself, not see anything, I couldn’t watch anything,” highlighted Raducanu, who has already concluded her WTA season while waiting to see if she can represent Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 Finals.