British tennis star Emma Raducanu has declared that her fitness issues are behind her as she gears up for Wimbledon by competing at the Nottingham Open. The 21-year-old is set to return to grass-court tournaments for the first time since undergoing double wrist and ankle surgery in May 2023. Raducanu has stated that she is in a “really fit place” and feels “really healthy.”
Raducanu emphasized her current fitness level ahead of this week’s Nottingham Open, despite having to withdraw from the French Open last month. She hasn’t played since the Madrid Open in April, but is ready to continue her comeback in Nottingham.
“It was important for me to take time to transition onto the grass because the balls over the grass season are heavy,” Raducanu explained regarding her withdrawal from Roland-Garros.
She added, “I feel like the conditions are just getting slower and slower on the grass courts. Especially for myself having had wrist surgeries, I just needed to prioritize the transition. I think wrists are always very delicate, and with how the tour is now, changing balls every week, it doesn’t help.”
Raducanu has called for uniform tennis balls across the WTA Tour, suggesting that using different balls throughout the year increases injury risks. “I’m not the only one with wrist issues,” she noted. “I’m probably just the one who’s had them most publicly. It’s hard because they are trying to make the points longer and tennis more interesting, but it often negatively impacts players.”
Reflecting on her journey, Raducanu remembered her first WTA match at the Nottingham Open in 2021, which earned her a wildcard for Wimbledon where she reached the fourth round. Just two months later, she made history by winning the US Open as the first qualifier to claim a Grand Slam title.
Since then, Raducanu has faced challenges with form and fitness, but her surgeries last year aim to have resolved these issues. “Body-wise, physical-wise, I feel really healthy,” Raducanu said. “I’ve done amazing work with my trainer over the last few months, since surgery. I’m in a really fit place. My wrists are actually in a better position than they ever were. So there’s zero doubt or apprehension.”
Raducanu’s recovery journey included using a mobility scooter, which has given her a renewed appreciation for her time on the court. “It’s easy to lose sight of where I was exactly a year ago,” she reflected. “A year ago, I was on a scooter and didn’t know if I’d be back. To be healthy and here now, I need to cherish it.”
As Raducanu prepares for her grass-court return, she remains focused on her fitness and readiness for the challenges ahead.
