Grass courts and wrist injuries: Raducanu's major concerns about WTA Tour

Emma Raducanu expressed her concerns about the constant injuries plaguing players on the WTA Tour. According to the 2021 US Open champion, the lack of regulations regarding the transition to grass courts or the type of balls used in each tournament is a significant issue.

The former world No. 10 recently returned to action at the WTA 250 Nottingham Open, where she successfully debuted against Ena Shibahara with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. Raducanu advanced to the round of 16 and will face Daria Snigur, who is brimming with confidence after eliminating second seed Marta Kostyuk.

Before her debut in Nottingham, the 21-year-old discussed her prolonged injuries, which forced her to undergo surgeries on both wrists and one ankle in 2022. Raducanu commented that she is not the only player who has struggled with injuries and expressed her concerns about the challenges the WTA faces in protecting players.

"It was important for me to take time to transition onto the grass because the balls over the grass season are heavy. I feel like the conditions are just getting slower and slower on the grass courts. Especially for myself having had wrist surgeries, I just needed to prioritize the transition."

“I’m not the only one with wrist issues. I’m probably just the one who’s had them most publicly. So, I think for me it’s definitely a factor where I have to miss certain events because either the conditions or the balls just don’t favour my situation."

“I think wrists are always very delicate and I think especially with how the tour is right now, and the fact we have to change balls every single week pretty much, and they don’t regulate the ball," Raducanu added.

Despite the difficulties of the past two years, the former Grand Slam champion reflected on her journey to return to tennis after prolonged injuries. Raducanu appreciated her current state compared to a year ago: “I think it’s very easy for me to lose sight of where I was exactly a year ago because it is pretty much a year ago to this day, to this month,” she said.

"You want more and more and more. But a year ago I was on a scooter, scooting around and I didn’t know [whether I would play again]… of course there was an element of doubt. So to be healthy, I need to cherish it," Raducanu concluded.