"I am just grateful for this opportunity" says Raducanu on playing Australian Open

Emma Raducanu will make her Australian Open debut in a few days and the British player is not worried after a very bumpy start in 2022.

Raducanu will make her debut at the event that she watched on TV just 12 months ago. Facts like these keep Raducanu grounded as she gets her first full professional season underway. She admitted as much ahead of the event saying:

“Twelve months ago I was just in my room studying for my exams. I was watching [the Australian Open] from afar. I just feel very grateful to have this opportunity to play here. Hopefully we'll get out there and see the fans."

It's a healthy view to have especially after a bumpy start that saw her season delayed by a coronavirus bout. Raducanu was also asked if she feels any pressure as a reigning grand slam champion and she admitted she doesn't:

“Because of the last few months I've had. maybe I haven't played as much as I would have liked to or trained so much. I feel like there's actually no pressure on me. I feel like I'm just happy to be here and have a swing. I had to jump a few hurdles to play here, so I just want to go out there and have fun and enjoy [myself] on the court.”

Raducanu was unable to practice for about 20 days as she recovered from COVID and it left a mark on her stamina. Speaking on that she said:

"It's a challenge to find the balance of wanting to get out there and practise straight after coming out of isolation. But if you do it after not doing anything for 20 days, you always start picking up small niggles. The first week I wasn't able to practise so much. But after Sydney, the match, it was just good to see where I was. Afterwards I went out to sharpen up a few things on the practice court. I think that gradually I'm getting there.”