Emma Raducanu was all smiles as she took part in her pre tournament press conference at the ASB Classic in Auckland. Due to take place between January 1-7, it marks Raducanu's return to action for the first time since April when she lost in Stuttgart then underwent surgery.
After having the weight of the tennis world on her shoulders since winning the 2021 US Open, Raducanu admitted that she now feels 'reborn' and 'fresh' ready to take on the task again of fulfilling her undoubted potential.
“I feel reborn in a way. I feel fresh, ready, happy, excited. Overall l’m feeling positive & lighter. I think for 2 years after the US Open, I felt a bit more weight on my shoulders. Now I feel fresh," said Raducanu during her pre-tournament press conference.
This was released prior to the draw though which saw Raducanu drawn with Elina Svitolina and Caroline Wozniacki in superbly tough luck for all three. In particular given that the qualifiers were all basically situated at the top of the draw.
Raducanu will start herself against a qualifier before facing Svitolina or Wozniacki who face off in the tie of the opening round. So in reality, the Brit may not get to that tie if she loses to the qualifier, but that tie is there and waiting.
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Emma Raducanu feels reborn ahead of her comeback:
“I feel reborn in a way. I feel fresh, ready, happy, excited. Overall l’m feeling positive & lighter. I think for 2 years after the US Open, I felt a bit more weight on my shoulders. Now I feel fresh” ❤️