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via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 18, 2022 Britain’s Emma Raducanu celebrates winning her first round match against Sloane Stephens of the U.S. REUTERS/James Gourley
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-01-18T131227Z_374538044_UP1EI1I10OO9I_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-AUSOPEN.jpg?width=600)
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 18, 2022 Britain’s Emma Raducanu celebrates winning her first round match against Sloane Stephens of the U.S. REUTERS/James Gourley
Emma Raducanu is gearing up to dust off her old confidante for the Nottingham Open, ready to hit the courts with renewed vigor and determination. The British player’s decision to withdraw from Roland Garros was a bit chaotic and she received a lot of negativity on her form. But now, before making her comeback, Raducanu revealed how difficult it was to be normal despite all the things going on around her.
Recovering from double wrist and ankle surgeries, Raducanu’s career was in danger of being over before it truly began. Dealing with that fear, and fan comments piled on top would not be easy for anyone. In an interview just a day before her grass court comeback, the Briton said, “Yeah, I’d say it’s hard to just um, you know, shout out all the noise because there is a lot of it in every aspect. You know, you don’t really have any privacy but it’s, it’s okay.”
At the same time, Raducanu knows it’s all part of the job. “I guess it just comes with the territory and I’d rather be in this position, having achieved what I have. And I think I just need to keep reminding myself of that.”
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Raducanu is full of optimism as she prepares to play her first grass-court match at the Nottingham Open, saying that she’s in a “really fit place.” The 21-year-old, who chose to forego the French Open in favor of a more rigorous fitness program, has been working hard to get ready for her comeback to competition since her first-round loss in the April Madrid Open.
Emma Raducanu returns to the Nottingham Open this week after a couple of years
A lot of changes since then- she told me it's hard to shut out all the noise and there's not a lot of privacy for her.🎾
But she never thought about quitting during her injury lay off.👇@ITVCentral pic.twitter.com/hjP2pI9LCI
— Mark Kielesz-Levine (@MKLevineITV) June 10, 2024
After battling through ankle and wrist surgeries the previous year, Raducanu’s return to the court is much anticipated. She said, “Body-wise, physical-wise, I feel really healthy. I feel really strong. I’ve done amazing work with my trainer over the last few months, since surgery. I’m in a really fit place. I think my wrists are actually in a better position than they ever were.”
Looking at where she is now from last year, when the Briton was on a mobility scooter, there’s hope for grass yet. The decision to pull out of clay was reasoned as fear of adjustment over different surfaces quickly. No matter what happens, Raducanu is in it to win it and she’s not going anywhere.
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Even last year, the US Open champion put an end to any misgivings and confirmed her undying commitment to the sport she loves in just four words.
When Emma Raducanu silenced her haters
Recently, Raducanu showed off her artistic side on Instagram. She posted pictures of herself painting along with a disclaimer about amateurish attempts, and captioned it, “don’t try this at home⚠️👩🎨.” But her critics were quick to mock her, asking why she chose to concentrate on art rather than tennis. Raducanu answered coolly, emphasizing how much time a day has to provide, so she doesn’t solely focus on one thing, “24 hrs in a day 🙌.”
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When she previously used piano clips to display her musical abilities, keyboard warriors attacked her and disparaged both her wide range of interests and her ability to make money. The Grand Slam champion is unflappable and persistent in pursuing her two hobbies in spite of the critics’ relentless attacks.
Are you looking forward to watching Emma Raducanu in action on grass? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!