Emma Raducanu posts positive injury update as she prepares for Australian Open
Emma Raducanu’s new year was threatening to follow a familiar pattern as she pulled out of her first event of 2025 without striking a ball, but the news is positive for the 2021 US Open champion.
Raducanu’s was forced to withdraw from the ASB Classic in Auckland with a back problem, raising big doubts over her hopes of playing in the first Grand Slam of this year.
“Tried my best to be ready,” Raducanu said on the WTA website as she confirmed her withdrawal. “I love Auckland and the fans here but unfortunately picked up a back niggle and won’t be ready in time.”
Her failure to take to the court in Auckland means Raducanu will head into the Australian Open without any competitive action under her belt since she won three successive matches while playing for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in November.
Yet the signs are positive for Raducanu after her practice sessions in Melbourne have appeared to proceed without any recurrence of her back problem.
Raducanu is keen to build up her fitness after hiring renonwed trainer Yutaka Nakamura for this year and she has been enjoying her time in Melbourne as she looks to go on a run that would take her back into the top 50 of the WTA Rankings.
The Brit is currently sitting at No 60 world despite only playing in 13 tournaments in 2024 and her stated aim is to spend more time on court this year.
“I want to play more than I did this year,” she said last month. “I think now, with my set-up, I’m in a place where I can continue work on the road. So I don’t necessarily need to come back to continue good physical work.
“I can do it pretty much every day, like microdoses. And I think that’s actually going to be a great addition for me next year, which I’m excited about.
“Also with my tennis, I’m in a pretty good spot. I feel like I just want to see how much I can do, fulfil my potential. I’m curious about what my level can get to. I really want to play more. And I think a big part of that is just staying healthy.”
Raducanu will have a realistic chance to be seeded for the French Open in May if she has a solid start to 2025, with former British No 1 Tim Henman convinced she can have a positive year if she maintains her fitness levels.
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“I think the challenge for Raducanu is around physical resilience,” the former world No 4 said on the Sky Sports Tennis podcast.
“You talk about Katie Boulter and all the improvements that she made. Yes, she has got better as a tennis player, her movement has improved, but it’s also the resilience to be able to play that full schedule.
“You saw Katie at the end of the year playing four or five tournaments in a row. She made a final in Hong Kong, at the last event of the year and finished in the top 25.
“Raducanu has had a decent year going from sort of 300 into the top 60 but, when you look at the amount of tennis she’s played, she hasn’t played a great deal.
“If she builds up that resilience, every time she steps on the court, she was playing good tennis. Therefore, top 50, top 30 in 2025, I think is completely realistic.”
Raducanu will be eager to land some positive draws in the next few months as she looks to make a leap up the WTA Rankings, but she will fast-track that process if she enjoys a good run at the Australian Open.
