"I couldn’t really go anywhere": Emma Raducanu had to use a scooter to get around after surgery after being left struggling to walk
WTA
Emma
Raducanu opened up about her challenging recovery after undergoing three
surgeries that kept her away from the WTA Tour for nine months. The 2021 US
Open champion went under the knife to address issues in both of her wrists and
her left ankle in May 2023.
The British
player shared insights into the weeks and months of recovery following the
surgeries, during which she needed a wheelchair to move around. She also faced
difficulties with various daily tasks, such as brushing her teeth: “It took a
while. I would play, and then I had a patch where I couldn’t play again for two
months because of one of my wrists. That was really difficult.”
A challenging recovery
“I felt
like I was getting going and then it was a setback again. You’re so used to
being active and moving around all of the time, and then everything is cut
off,” Raducanu said. “I couldn’t even use crutches. So, I basically had like a
scooter kind of thing. You would put your hands on the front steering thing and
your knee on a pad and push yourself around with one leg,” she added.
Raducanu
mentioned that the tough recovery reignited her competitive spirit to come back
in the best possible shape: “It was really difficult. I couldn’t really go
anywhere. I couldn’t go to the supermarket. Imagine being that immobile.”
“It
reignited the fire to get back out there competing and made me appreciate just
being healthy and being able to walk around. Being able to brush your teeth so
much more.” “I feel reborn in a way. I feel fresh. I feel happy. I feel
excited. I feel positive and lighter,” Raducanu stated.
“In
training and practising over the last few weeks, I have been hitting the ball
really well. I think I’m a better tennis player than I was before the break. “People
around me can see I’m playing really well. Physically I’m pushing weight and
pushing things that I wasn’t doing before. In my body, I have confidence in it.
Former
world No. 10 will return to the courts on January 1, 2024, at the ASB Classic,
her first tournament since April at the Stuttgart Open. Her opponent will be
the Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse (No. 128) coming from the qualifiers but
arriving with competition rhythm after two victories over Anna Danilina and
Jule Niemeier: “Tennis-wise, it’s about now putting it into a match, which is
completely different to practice,” Raducanu concluded just a day before her
official comeback.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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