British tennis ace Emma Raducanu has made a comeback after almost eight months as the 21-year-old is competing at the ASB Classics in Auckland. While the Briton is expected to do well at the WTA 250 tournament, it is the year’s first Grand Slam- 2024 Australian Open where Raducanu has her eyes set. Though Raducanu did not get a place in the entry list earlier, it seems the Briton will eventually get a place after Petra Kvitova pulled out of the tournament.
As the Czech tennis ace announced on Monday that she is pregnant with her first child and hence will be giving the year’s first Grand Slam a miss, the doors have opened for Raducanu to get a place in the main draw.
After Petra Kvitova’s pullout, Tamara Zidansek got a place in the main draw. Meanwhile, Raducanu is the next on the waiting list. In case of any pullout now, the Briton will be included in the main draw. The chances of it are high with concerns looming over Madison Keys‘ participation in the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.
A user on X claimed that Madison Keys and Lauren Davis are doubtful for the 2024 Australian Open. In case any one of them pulls out, Emma Raducanu will get a direct entry into the tournament. After missing out on a wildcard entry, the news of Petra Kvitova’s pullout comes as a ray of hope for the Briton and her fans.
Reborn Emma Raducanu ready to take off
Emma Raducanu, after missing the majority of the 2023 season due to injuries said she feels reborn and excited. Raducanu said that her US Open title win in 2021 put a lot of weight on her shoulders. However, this elongated break has helped her gain a fresh perspective and she feels ready to play now.
Yeah, I feel reborn in a way. I feel fresh, I feel ready, I feel happy and I feel excited. Overall, I'm feeling positive and lighter. I think that for two years after the U.S. Open, I felt maybe a bit more weight on my shoulders, but now I feel completely fresh. Emma Raducanu said in the conference before her first-round match at ASB Classic. (H/T: ESPN)
The 21-year-old also talked about the freedom she feels to do her own chores.
It's nice not to have three casts on you," she added. "So just moving around and showering, [doing] everything you really appreciate, being able to do your own hair, stuff like that. I'm just happy to be back playing. The Briton added.
A few days back, Emma Raducanu talked about making the most of her elongated break. She revealed how she used this time for her holistic growth and to spend time with her family.
Coming to Raducanu’s start to her 2024 season, the 21-year-old had a winning start as she beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the opening round at the WTA 250 tournament. She beat Ruse 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in 2 hours and 28 minutes. The 2021 US Open champion will next face Elina Svitolina.
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