Emma Raducanu in fine form at the Australian Open
Emma Raducanu has won her first Grand Slam match in a year and the British star was in a jubilant mood as she met the media in Melbourne.
The 2021 US Open champion has been on a long journey since her last win in Melbourne a year ago, as she has undergone double wrist and ankle surgery before returning to action earlier this month.
Playing her first major tournament since a second-round exit to Coco Gauff here last year following surgery on both wrists and one ankle, the 21-year-old produced an assured performance to beat the American Shelby Rodgers 6-3 6-2.
As she reflected on her emotions after the win against an experienced rival, Raducanu looked back to the condition she was in a year ago in Melbourne as she confirmed she is now playing without any discomfort on court.
“It’s amazing to be pain-free with the wrists. I honestly didn’t know if I’d ever get to this stage,” she said.
“I had pain for so long. I was playing since before the U.S. swing in 2022 all the way before surgery.
“It was difficult because I wasn’t able to train, I wasn’t able to practice. Then having to go play and compete against the best in the world with an hour a day, while not playing for two weeks trying to settle the pain down, is very difficult.
“You’re playing, and it’s like you can’t even say I know I’m doing the work, it will pay off, because I wasn’t doing any work.
“I was trying to make it until after Wimbledon, but I just couldn’t. Mentally I wanted to be in the best position possible for every match. Yeah, so I just decided to.
“I think the time away made me very hungry. I’m just happy to be healthy again and pain-free
“My wrists have been really good actually. I have been doing my rehab religiously every single day. Yeah, it’s paid off.
“I don’t have any fear or any restrictions on anything. I’ve passed all the return-to-play markers. My grip strength is higher than ever. It’s just about continuing to do the boring rehab, for example. Yeah, hopefully I’ll be in good shape.”
“The Emma who walked on court 12 months ago had a huge cyst removed about 10 days before,” she continued. “I travelled here on a wheelchair.
“I only started hitting three days before the match. That whole process was a lot of stress. We weren’t sure if I was going to be able to play here.
So I think I was also in a way grateful to be able to have the chance to play. I didn’t want to back out of the AO, so I did everything I could
“This year and now there’s just a lot more calm. I think I’m more levelheaded. I think things around me have settled. I do feel better, and there’s just less I’d say highs and lows around. It’s just more of an equilibrium.”
A packed arena showed how much interest there is in Raducanu’s comeback, and this was the sort of routine win she will hope to achieve regularly throughout the season.
Raducanu was cheered loudly throughout and, after clenching her fist and waving to all sides of the arena, she gave her towel to a fan she recognised who had supported her in New York.
“Going out there today I think I was a little bit taken aback by just the support straight when I walked out,” she added.
“I think it was better than any year I’ve really had before here. It was just amazing to see all the signs, hear the support. It was pretty incredible. So I was very happy to be able to play in those sort of circumstances again.
“I gave the towel to Mark. He was actually there every round at US Open. I didn’t know he was here. I just saw him in the crowd. He’s very vocal. It was actually great to have him there to get me through. He’s very passionate and enthusiastic. It was his birthday.”
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