“Whilst my foot is making good progress, I need a little more time before I am match fit,” is what Emma Raducanu said while announcing her withdrawal from the Hong Kong Open. The WTA star has had a fair share of setbacks amid injuries. After a long time of keeping herself out, she has finally stepped back on the courts of Malaga, Spain. However, despite the staggering comeback, a sense of regret still lingers within her, which she revealed in a recent conversation.

Emma Raducanu opened up about the disappointment she felt after her abrupt exit from the Korea Open. She had been playing well and was confident about her performance in Seoul. “Of course, I wanted to continue in the Asia swing. I think I was playing some good tennis again in Seoul, and I was really feeling pretty good on those courts out there,” she said. Her early exit was not what she had envisioned, especially given her form during the tournament.

The young British star was forced to retire in the quarterfinal against Daria Kasatkina because of a persistent foot injury. Raducanu had started experiencing discomfort in her earlier match against China’s Yue Yuan but pushed through to secure a victory. However, her match against Kasatkina proved too demanding. “You know, unfortunately I injured my foot. There were so many tournaments, and I wasn’t defending any points at the back end of the year, so of course I wanted to play,” she explained. Despite her determination, the injury cut short her promising run in Seoul.

Raducanu chose to view the setback as an opportunity to recover and work on her game. She used the time away from competition wisely. “I think I just took the time and used it in a really proactive and productive way. I feel like everything happens for a reason. It gave me time to work on certain things,” she said. This break allowed her to focus on specific aspects of her performance, including her serve, which showed improvement in recent practice sessions. “Two days ago I served 10 aces, for example, which I did in Seoul in my last match, but it’s been a work in progress. It doesn’t just happen overnight,” she shared.

Despite the initial frustration, Raducanu is now in a much better mental space. She looks ahead without dwelling on past disappointments. “Even if I was a little bit at the time disappointed, now I feel pretty good, and I don’t look back with any regrets,” she concluded. Her focus remains on rebuilding her form and returning stronger in the ongoing event. Amid all this, her form has already improved as evidenced by her displays at the BJK Cup.

Emma Raducanu helps Great Britain outshine at the BJK Cup

Emma Raducanu delivered a commendable performance to defeat Canada’s Rebecca Marino and bring Great Britain closer to the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals. The Toronto-born star moved to the UK at the age of two and showed no signs of hesitation in the opening set. She completely outclassed the Canadian No. 2, winning 6-0 without dropping a single game. Raducanu’s sharp returns and relentless movement left Marino struggling to find any rhythm in the first set.

The second set was a much tougher battle as Marino tried to stage a comeback. Raducanu had to dig deep as she saved an incredible seven break points to keep her lead intact. Despite the pressure, the former US Open champion held her ground and closed out the match 6-0, 7-5. The intense contest lasted one hour and 29 minutes, showcasing Raducanu’s enhanced physical endurance. She forced Marino to run for every ball and maintained control of crucial points with precision.

With this win, Great Britain now sits on the brink of a historic Billie Jean King Cup semi-final appearance. Katie Boulter, Britain’s No.1, will face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the next match. Fernandez, who lost to Raducanu in the 2021 US Open final, will look to keep Canada’s hopes alive. If Great Britain advances, they will face Slovakia, who have already secured wins over the USA and Australia. The stage is set for an exciting conclusion as Great Britain aims to lift the trophy for the first time since the tournament’s inception in 1963.