(Tennis news) Emma Raducanu credited her “team effort” to be fit and ready for the Australian Open despite an injury scare nearly ruled her out of the Grand Slam event. The 20 year old suffered an ankle injury in the Auckland International and was seen leaving the court in tears but the 2021 US Open winner is now ready to take on Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch at Melbourne Park in the first round of the Australian Open.
“In the match, obviously, at the time, you’re a bit worried about it. When you just go over, you don’t really know what’s going on. But we’ve been working very hard. It’s been a team effort to get me to this place. We’ve definitely expedited the process but I’m feeling really good and looking forward to getting out on the court.
“It’s just a huge, huge props to my team, really here and back home, who have helped get me to this place. I started practising midweek and we’ve been building it up pretty gradually. But I think that I’ve not really played much tennis ever in my career so I’m kind of used to it. And I’m not stressed about the lack of tennis that much.” – Emma Raducanu
Raducanu, along with her physiotherapist Will Herbert put in the hours off the court to ensure that the 20 year old will be ready for the Grand Slam event. She spent portions of last season training with Andy Murray’s former trainer Jez Green and is now looking forward to establishing a solid foundation this season and climbing the rankings. Her last victory was against Korpatsch on clay in Stuttgart last year, winning in three sets.
“I think that I was feeling in a really good place mentally. In tennis I was like, ‘yeah, this is going well’. I think I was a bit shocked initially but then it didn’t take anything away from how I’m feeling about the season. And I feel really, really good actually. I just can’t wait to get out there on the court this year. I think that I’m setting things up really nicely with the way my team is looking at the moment.
“And I’m just buzzing to start and get going. I would say I’m definitely in stronger shape. I’m in a better condition physically. I did a lot of work and I’m very pleased with how it went physically. She’s an awkward player, bit tricky. So it’ll be a good challenge to get used to her style and play. It’ll be a good test for me to see where I’m at.” – Emma Raducanu
Also read: Australian Open: Murray to take on Berrettini while Raducanu will face Korpatsch
