There’s nothing worse than an injury to a tennis player. Emma Raducanu knows this all too well. Injuries that have slowed her momentum since her remarkable US Open victory in 2021 have plagued the British tennis player’s career. Now, as the season begins, Raducanu is facing another challenge. The British tennis star had to make a last-minute withdrawal from the ASB Classic in Auckland due to a back injury. Starting the season with a withdrawal can be demoralising for any player, but Raducanu has a strong support system she can turn to.

On Thursday, Raducanu took to her Instagram story to share a moment of warmth and encouragement from her family. In the story, she shared a screenshot of herself smiling brightly during a FaceTime call with her mother. The caption read, “Mom’s pov.” The image showed a glimpse of her mother, giving Raducanu the emotional support she needs during this difficult time.

Family is central in the 22-year-old’s life. Raducanu, of Romanian and Chinese heritage, was born in Toronto and subsequently relocated to the United Kingdom. The family established residence in Bromley, where Raducanu unexpectedly developed a passion for tennis. Her mother has played a pivotal role in her personal and athletic development. When asked about her role model in an interview with Tatler last year, Raducanu didn’t hesitate.

“It has to be my mum,” she said. “Her work ethic is something that she’s instilled in me from a young age; I definitely got that from her. She’s very strong, and she is great at reading people, which I’ve also picked from her.”

While her father initially encouraged her to play tennis, Raducanu’s mother “a big pillar of mine in all senses, professional and personal,” as she told Women’s Health magazine in October 2024. “She knows me inside out. It’s kind of freaky, so I go to her a lot. She’s my best friend.”

This isn’t the first time the 2021 US Open champion has withdrawn from a tournament due to an injury.

“Eight months and three surgeries”: The story of Emma Raducanu

As a professional tennis player, injuries are unfortunately part of the journey. Emma Raducanu has faced more than her fair share. Her breakthrough win at the US Open in 2021 as a qualifier was the start of an exciting career, but injuries have disrupted her progress since then. In 2023, Raducanu had to undergo three surgeries on her ankles and wrist, forcing her to cut her season short. The challenges didn’t end there.

In 2024, Raducanu made a promising comeback season marked by gradual recovery and resilience. She started the year ranked 301st and climbed to No. 56 in the world. She made her deepest run in a Grand Slam since 2021 at the Wimbledon where she reached the 4th round. The British tennis player also secured victories against top 10 players, Jessica Pegula(in Eastbourne) and Maria Sakkari(at SW19) for the first time. She also successfully reached the quarterfinals at the Washington Open and Stuttgart Open.

However, the former British No.1 faced another setback as she sustained a foot ligament strain during a quarter-final match at the China Open in September which forced her to withdraw from multiple tournaments in Asia. In an interview with HSBC in 2024, Raducanu opened up about the struggle.

“I was out for eight months and I had three surgeries, and the rehab wasn’t as straightforward as everyone planned,” she said. “When you’re on the sidelines watching everything go past you, yeah, it was difficult. I just had to shut it off, and I actually couldn’t watch anything.” It’s an honest reflection of the emotional toll that injuries can take on an athlete. Despite these setbacks, Raducanu isn’t letting them define her.

She’s focused on getting back to full fitness and preparing for her next challenge. However, she isn’t slated to compete at any other warm-up tournaments before the Australian Open. When she steps onto the courts again, will Emma Raducanu be able to bounce back from this latest injury and make a strong start to the 2025 season?