Emma Raducanu is ready to return to action and she will be chasing a huge cash windfall
Emma Raducanu has given a big hint that she is finally ready to make her return to action and play for Great Britain at this week’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga.
Raducanu shot up the WTA Rankings last summer after some impressive performances on grass courts, including a run to the fourth round a Wimbledon.
That looked set to be a springboard for the second half of 2024, but Raducanu has played just seven matches since her Wimbledon run in mid-July, with injuries and decisions not to play in certain events contributing to her lack of time on court.
She pulled out of several events in Asia due to a foot problem and there have been reports in recent days that she also suffered another injury in recent weeks that has halted her progress.
The 21-year-old Brit is looking to get back on court for the final big event of the women’s tennis year, as she has been picked to play for Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga.
Raducanu played a central role in Britain’s qualifying for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals with two hugely impressive singles wins on clay against France back in April.
Now she has posted images of her training at the National Tennis Centre alongside her fellow British team-mates, with their opening match against Germany set to be played this Friday.
Raducanu’s return would be something of a surprise, even though she has stated she is eager to try and be fit to play in Malaga, where some of the biggest names in tennis will compete.
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals are set to get underway in Malaga on Wednesday and the winners will be chasing glory for their nations and a stunning prize money pot worth $9.6 million.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Spain’s Paula Badosa are among the star names set to take to the court to chase the biggest prize in women’s team tennis and the ITF have confirmed the prize money on offer befits the stature of the event.
The team that emerges victorious in the final on November 20 will receive a stunning $2,400,000, with the money to be shared amongst the members of the team.
The runners-up will collect $1,400,000, while semi-finalists will be handed prize money of $960,000 and quarter-finalists will get $520,000.
Even teams that lose in the first round of the knock-out event in Malaga will collect $450,000 and with around five players named in each team, the money on offer could give a lot of the players taking part their biggest payday of 2024.
“At the heart of the ITF Advantage All programme is a drive towards gender parity and we are pleased to be offering equivalent prize money across Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Davis Cup Finals for the third year in a row,” said David Haggerty, ITF President.
“As ever, we are grateful to Billie Jean King Cup title sponsor Gainbridge for their support in helping to make this possible.”
Conchita Martinez, Billie Jean King Cup Finals tournament director and five-time Billie Jean King Cup champion, said: “Representing your nation at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals is a huge achievement, and we are delighted to have a generous player prize money purse which enables us to reward all players at the Finals.
“We are thankful to all our sponsors and partners for their support of the Billie Jean King Cup and of women’s tennis as a whole.”
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After some disappointing attendances at the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia last week, plenty of eyes will be on the stands in Malaga to see if this event is attracting the attention of local fans in Spain.
The opening match between a Poland side led by world No 2 Swiatek and hosts Spain is a sell-out, but there are tickets still available for as little as €10 for most of the other ties.
There are plenty of tickets available for Great Britain’s and the USA’s opening matches and this is in contrast to the Davis Cup Finals that will also take place in Malaga and get underway next week.
The final of the Billie Jean King Cup will overlap the Davis Cup at the same venue, with tickets for matches featuring Spain in that competition selling out quickly and only limited tickets still available for a lot of the other ties.
The farewell of Spanish sporting icon Rafael Nadal has driven interest in the Davis Cup and success for the home nation would also provide a boost to the Billie Jean King Cup event, with tickets for the final still on sale now for just €25.
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