Emma Raducanu was knocked out of the Eastbourne Open in the second round as back issues plagued her again – but she maintained she would still play at Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu insists she will play at Wimbledon despite struggling with more back problems as her warm-up event ended prematurely with a second round loss at the Eastbourne Open.
The US Open champion from four years ago has returned to her previous status as British No 1 and it was on the grass at SW19 that she first burst onto the scene. Injuries have plagued her for years and Raducanu is again struggling with some issues.
On Wednesday she was beaten by Aussie teenager Maya Joint. Raducanu was able to stop the Aussie No.2 serving out the match three times before eventually falling to a 4-6 6-1 7-6 loss in what will be her last match before Wimbledon.
The 22-year-old suffered back spasms before the Australian Open and French Open. She also pulled out of last week’s Berlin Open after a recurrence at Queen’s Club. She has been undergoing more acupuncture and taking tablets this week to manage the pain.
Despite those issues Raducanu insisted she would turn out at the All England Club as she was questioned on whether she could miss the Grand Slam. She replied: “No, I think I will step on the court regardless.”
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Raducanu elaborated on her issues as she said: “I’ve just been managing it but hopefully I can recover. I still have a few days before Wimbledon so I’m looking forward to kind of recovering, and hopefully it settles. I would say it bothers me. I wouldn’t say I can’t move. Like a lot of athletes, we all carry something that we’re managing and playing through, but I’d just say that it’s okay. I can play, and I can still put out some pretty decent tennis in the situation.”
She also said: “I am going to rest tomorrow, just take it day by day. Get some practice in. I think it could be a blessing in disguise, having some rest right now, I think I’m looking forward to heading back and then getting on the grass at Wimbledon.”
Raducanu admitted on Tuesday after her emotional first-round win over Ann Li, where she cried on court, that she had received “some pretty bad news” and she again referenced that after her defeat without elaborating on the what the bad news was.
Raducanu’s efforts are being aided by her part-time coach Mark Petchey. She also had LTA chief fitness coach Ian Aylward in her player box. Last year the Grand Slam champion made the fourth round at Wimbledon – matching her result from 2021. It was also her best run since she claimed victory in New York.
On the same day that Raducanu was ousted her compatriot Jodie Burrage failed to convert match points against the current Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, who beat the Brit in a third set tie break.