The tennis heritage and tradition of the United Kingdom goes back a long way. All Britons admire and celebrate the sport alike. After all, Britain is home to SW19, arguably the world’s most famous tennis event. But having said that, things look pretty concerning for British tennis at the moment. With Emma Raducanu sidelined for several months due to injury, the bad patch for British tennis isn’t ending anytime soon. Emma Raducanu is set to miss the French Open and Wimbledon after undergoing multiple surgeries. She aims to recover from persisting issues on her wrists and ankle.
With the 20-year-old’s absence, how does the British contingent look heading into Roland Garros? Let’s have a look.
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Concerns piling up for British tennis after Emma Raducanu’s setback
Upcoming British players in the women’s division have been unable to fill up the void created by Raducanu. As many as 6 British women bowed out from the French Open qualifying rounds this week. This meant that this year’s Roland Garros will be the first grand slam in 14 years where no British representatives will feature in the women’s singles main draw.
Such an occurrence was last seen at the 2009 US Open. Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Fran Jones, Heather Watson, Katie Swan, and Lily Miyazaki were all eliminated from the Roland Garros qualifiers. Both Boulter and Dart lost their matches 2-sets-to-1, whereas Jones forfeited her match due to a shoulder injury. Moreover, the other 3 got knocked out earlier in the first round of their qualifying matches. “..It comes in the same week that the Wimbledon women’s singles entry list had no home representation for the first time since 2007.”, Tennis correspondent from The Times, Stuart Fraser tweeted about the issue.
Today’s French Open singles draw (1pm) is the first at a grand slam to have no British female players since the 2009 US Open. It comes in the same week that the Wimbledon women’s singles entry list had no home representation for the first time since 2007. https://t.co/X92ppvskMn
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) May 25, 2023
The men’s singles draw at French Open looks more promising for the British brigade despite Andy Murray‘s withdrawal from the event. He aims to focus on his favored grass-court season. Nevertheless, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, and Jack Draper will be the only flag-bearers of Britain at the upcoming Roland Garros.
The tennis world will sorely miss the presence of Raducanu after she showed signs of delivering on her potential in 2021.
Raducanu created history at the 2021 US Open
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Emma Raducanu’s meteoric rise as a tennis star culminated at the 2021 US Open. She became the first British woman to win a grand slam in 44 years, after Virginia Wade’s Wimbledon triumph in 1977. The then 18-year-old also became the first-ever qualifier to clinch a grand slam title. Winning the title in only her second main draw appearance at a major marked the Open Era record for the fewest attempts required by a woman to win her maiden championship.
Nevertheless, the potential of the young Briton is unquestionable. Additionally, the tennis world will be eagerly waiting for Raducanu to make her return and take women’s tennis in Britain to the heights it once belonged to.
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What do you make of the devastating news of Raducanu’s absence in the major tournament? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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