LONDON — British tennis star Emma Raducanu has visited doctors for medical assessments on multiple injuries, casting a dark cloud over her season and leaving her in what one insider described as a "fight for survival" on the professional tour.
The 2021 US Open champion, whose fairytale run at Flushing Meadows captivated the sporting world, is now grappling with a series of physical setbacks that have forced her to withdraw from upcoming tournaments and jeopardize her participation in the season's first Grand Slam, the Australian Open.
Express Sport can reveal that Raducanu recently underwent a battery of scans and consultations with specialists after complaining of persistent pain in her right wrist and left ankle. These are not new issues; both have plagued her since last season, but their recurrence and severity have now reached a critical point.
A Season in Peril
The timing of these injuries could not be worse. Raducanu was scheduled to begin her 2024 campaign at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, a key warm-up event, but was forced to pull out. This withdrawal follows a truncated 2023 season where she underwent surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle in May, sidelining her for eight months.
A source close to the situation told Express Sport, "This is a brutal situation for Emma. She worked incredibly hard in her rehabilitation and was so positive about her comeback. To have these niggles return so aggressively is a massive psychological blow as well as a physical one. Right now, it's a fight for survival on tour."
The primary concern is the right wrist. While the surgical sites from her triple operation are reportedly healed, the surrounding tendons and ligaments are causing significant discomfort, severely impacting her ability to practice and, most critically, to hit her potent two-handed backhand with any consistency or power.
The Road to Recovery
Raducanu's medical team is now faced with a complex puzzle. The immediate goal is to manage inflammation and pain to allow her to resume training. However, the long-term strategy is less clear. Insiders suggest a cautious, conservative approach is being prioritized over a rushed return.
Her team released a brief statement confirming the situation: "Emma has been forced to withdraw from her scheduled event in Abu Dhabi due to a recurrence of pain in her right wrist. She is under the care of her medical team and will not return to competition until she is fully fit."
This setback has prompted a reevaluation of her entire training and scheduling regimen. The key questions her team is now addressing include:
- The intensity and volume of practice sessions to prevent overloading the vulnerable areas.
- The potential need for altered technique or equipment to reduce strain on her wrists.
- A revised tournament schedule that focuses on health rather than ranking points.
- The incorporation of more extensive pre-habilitation and recovery protocols.
The Australian Open Dream Fades
With the Australian Open beginning on January 14th, the clock is ticking. Tennis analysts and former players have expressed grave doubts about her chances of being ready for the grueling best-of-five-set format in Melbourne.
Former British No. 1 Annabel Croft commented on the situation, stating, "It's heartbreaking to see. The body is sending very clear signals, and they are signals that cannot be ignored. To go from the highs of winning a Grand Slam to this relentless battle with injury is a cruel test of any athlete's character."
The WTA Tour's physical demands are higher than ever, and for a player like Raducanu, whose explosive movement and powerful groundstrokes are central to her game, any compromise to her physicality is a major competitive disadvantage. The fear is that without a fully resolved recovery, she risks entering a debilitating cycle of play, breakdown, and rehabilitation.
The Psychological Battle
Beyond the physical pain, the mental toll of this ongoing ordeal cannot be overstated. Raducanu has changed coaches multiple times since her US Open victory and has struggled to find consistent form, with injuries being the constant, unwelcome variable.
A sports psychologist, who wished to remain anonymous, explained the challenge: "When an athlete's identity is so tied to their physical prowess, repeated injuries can create a crisis of confidence. The fear of re-injury can become a mental block that is as debilitating as the physical pain itself."
Raducanu has previously spoken about the immense pressure and scrutiny she faces. This latest chapter only adds to that burden. The narrative around her has swiftly shifted from "prodigy" to "question mark," a transition that is difficult for any 21-year-old to navigate in the public eye.
What Comes Next?
The immediate future for Raducanu is one of uncertainty and intense medical management. Her team's primary focus is on getting her healthy, with competitive results taking a back seat for the moment. The decision on the Australian Open is expected to be made in the coming days.
The broader tennis community is watching with bated breath. Raducanu represents a huge star power for the sport, particularly in the UK. Her absence from major tournaments is a loss for fans and organizers alike.
For now, the rackets are largely silent. The fight is no longer against an opponent on the other side of the net, but against the limitations of her own body. The hope is that with patience and the right medical care, the player who stunned the world in New York can once again find her way back to the court, healthy and ready to compete. As one well-wisher put it, "Talent doesn't disappear, but it needs a healthy vessel to thrive."
The coming weeks will be crucial. Every medical report, every pain-free training session, and every decision made by her team will shape the trajectory of Emma Raducanu's career. In this high-stakes battle for fitness, the entire tennis world is hoping for a positive outcome for one of its most exciting, yet most challenged, young stars.