USA Today via Reuters
Oct 8, 2021; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Emma Raducanu (GBR) reacts after losing a point to Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Oct 8, 2021; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Emma Raducanu (GBR) reacts after losing a point to Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
The Australian summer of tennis is right upon us now. In fact, the tennis community had been looking forward to this time ever since the 2021 season ended. However, over the past few weeks, many big stars have been affected by the pandemic, with 19-year-old megastar Emma Raducanu being one of them.
Emma Raducanu shot to overnight superstardom after her maiden Grand Slam entry at the US Open ended with the championship. Thus, the world looked forward to seeing the young star achieve more glory in the subsequent 2022 season. However, it seems the wait will be a little longer.
Emma Raducanu missed two tournaments back-to-back
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Having contracted the virus in December 2021, the British star had to pull out of the Mubadala WTC tournament in Abu Dhabi. The defending US Open champion was supposed to headline the women’s lineup at the exhibition tournament.
via Reuters
Tennis – WTA 250 – Upper Austria Ladies Linz – TipsArena Linz, Linz, Austria – November 9, 2021. Britain’s Emma Raducanu looks dejected after losing her round of 16 match against China’s Wang Xinyu. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
Similarly, Emma Raducanu was preparing for her season to begin with the WTA 250 event of the Melbourne Summer Set. However, the star has now decided to pull out of this tournament as well, citing health concerns.
Since the warm-up tournament is in the very first week of the new year, Emma decided it was not enough time for a full recovery. “The timing to compete in the first Melbourne event this week is too soon for me, having just returned from isolation,” Raducanu was quoted saying.
Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Melbourne Summer Set saying: “The timing to compete in the first Melbourne event this week is too soon for me, having just returned from isolation.” Look forward to seeing you compete later this month @EmmaRaducanu 💙
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 1, 2022
Nevertheless, the star will most certainly play in the Australian Open later on. However, there are only two warm-up tournaments before the Grand Slam. This could certainly mean a lack of preparation heading into the first major of the year.
ALSO READ: Emma Raducanu Could Become The Most Influential Teenager in The World After £3 Million Vodafone Deal
Raducanu will still play the Sydney Classic
USA Today via Reuters
Oct 6, 2021; Indian Wells, CA, USA. Emma Raducanu (GBR) plays on the practice courts during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea. USA TODAY Sports
The Sydney Classic warm-up tournament will have plenty of big names in the draw. The tournament will precede the Australian Open a week before the major.
Ashleigh Barty and Emma Raducanu to take part in the Sydney tournamenthttps://t.co/xjqfyaUhCm
— MrLim (@MrLim8888) December 27, 2021
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The venue for the same would be the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis World Stadium. However, if Emma Raducanu’s recovery process takes longer and she were to somehow end up missing the tournament, her chances of winning the Australian Open would look bleak.
What do you think about Emma Raducanu’s chances of winning it all in Australia?
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