Laura Robson urges Emma Raducanu to draw inspiration from two comeback queens

News
Emma Raducanu on the comeback trail

Emma Raducanu has stepped up her comeback attempts in recent days and now she has been given words of inspiration from former British No 1 Laura Robson.

The 2021 US Open champion has missed most of this season due to injury after she underwent surgery on her wrists and ankle in an effort to resolve an ongoing injury problem.

Raducanu has made a tentative return to court in recent days, hitting softer balls at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in London as she inches back towards a return to competitive tennis.

The 20-year-old will not recover in time to play in this year’s US Open, yet Robson believes Raducanu has what it takes to return to the top of the game quickly if she can steer clear on injuries on her comeback mission.

Citing the impressive performances of Elina Svitolina and Caroline Wozniacki after their comebacks from extended periods away from the game in 2023, Robson told Tennis365 that Raduvanu has what it takes to reach the top all over again.

“We know she has got the game to do it. She has the ball striking ability, she is a great mover and a great all-round player and she competes,” Robson told Tennis365 at a Play Your Way To Wimbledon event.

“All you can do is stay as healthy as possible and try to play as many matches as possible to see where you go.

“Other players have come back very quickly in this last year. Svtolina has been amazing to watch and then Wozniacki has looked amazing considering she has not played in three and a half years.

“There are lots of players for Emma to look up to as examples of how quickly it can come back and not to get too disheartened if it doesn’t because everyone is on their own journey.”

There are hopes that Raduvanu could play again in 2023, but Robson suggests she needs to be cautious in selecting her return date in an effort to give her body the best chance possible to respond to the challenges of the game.

“I wouldn’t want to put a date on it or put pressure on her to return at a certain point,” she added.

“As anyone who has had a long-term injury knows, you have a goal in your mind and it is always adjusting.

“You might think you are going to be ready to play at a certain date and you pick up a little niggle somewhere else in your body as you have been doing months and months of compensating.

“She can’t play a lot of tennis at the moment, but it’s a huge step forward and she seems so happy to be back on court, which is lovely to see.

“I’m sure she is gunning to get back out there because having to watch all the tournaments on TV is the hardest part.”

Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is the UK’s largest individual mass participation tennis competition and is delivered by Vodafone in partnership with the LTA and The All England Lawn Tennis Club, forming part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to support grassroots tennis in the UK, whilst encouraging more people to pick up a racket.

READ MORE: Andy Murray setback will not halt ‘inevitable’ success says former British No 1

Emma Raducanu

Latest