(Tennis news) British tennis star Emma Raducanu has said that playing “fearless tennis” and remaining injury free are two of her biggest goals for the 2023 season. The 20 year old hasn’t played in a competitive fixture since October but will take on Linda Fruhvirtova at the ASB Classic on Tuesday.

Raducanu showed glimpses of her best performance against world number 2 Ons Jabeur in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi last month and has been training in Singapore before going to New Zealand. She is also training under German Sebastian Sachs after spells with Torben Beltz and Dmitry Tursunov.

“For 2023 my goal is to stay healthy for longer. I’m looking forward to working hard because I’ve got a better idea of what to expect now, so I’ll be less like a deer in the headlights. For a result, I’d say it’s to win a title, and three I’d say is to be playing fearless tennis. Just not thinking about consequences, just going for it.

“I think right now, because I’m still trying to find my timing and groove and my tennis, it’s a bit early to tell. But once I settle into that I think the physical side will definitely have made a difference because there’s no way it can’t have. But I’m also not ignorant in thinking two months is going to solve my entire physical condition, it’s going to take more time, over a year or two to redevelop.”

Emma Raducanu to wtatennis.com

Raducanu has been hampered with injuries with a wrist problem keeping her sidelined for two months. However, the silver lining was that she could then begin a pre-season training early and improve her fitness for the 2023 season. She has been working with Andy Murray’s former physical trainer Jez Green and will begin her new season campaign ranked 78th in the world. Despite being only 20 years old, she has already received an MBE from King Charles III and is widely considered to be one of the brightest prospects in women’s tennis.

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