"I’m a better tennis player than I was actually before": Fire reignited for Emma Raducanu on tennis return at ASB Classic

Emma Raducanu is just days away from making her debut at the ASB Classic after being away from tennis for nine months. The 2021 US Open champion underwent surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle. She recently acknowledged that her time away from the WTA Tour has heightened her professional ambitions.

The 21-year-old is anticipating a successful comeback in 2024 and has hinted that, following her recovery and training period, she is now a better tennis player than before. Her last match was at the Stuttgart Open, where she fell in the first round to Jelena Ostapenko (2-6, 1-6).

Raducanu assured Sky Sports that she currently feels better than before the extended hiatus: “Physically and tennis-wise in training and in practice over the last few weeks, I’m hitting the ball really well. I think I’m a better tennis player than I was actually before the break.

“I think the people around, at the LTA for example everyone can see that I’m training and playing really well,” Raducanu claimed. “Physically, I’m pushing weight, I’m pushing things that I wasn’t pushing before, so I think in my body I actually have confidence in it, which is really nice. And tennis-wise I feel good too.”

“It’s just about now putting it into a match, which is obviously completely different to practice. That part I couldn’t really replicate, you could do with sets but it’s never really the same feel. I know that will come in time though, as long as the level is there and improving.”

The return won't be easy for Raducanu as she faces a formidable main draw in Auckland, featuring several stars such as the current US Open champion Coco Gauff, the former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, and the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina. Raducanu acknowledged the tough competition, stating, “The field here in Auckland is extremely strong. Match-wise it might take a while to just adjust to the feeling of the pre-match nerves or match fitness, tight points, big points, that sort of thing.”

Raducanu added that she believes it will take some time for her to reach the competitive level she needs: “It might take me a while, but level-wise I feel really good. So I’m excited to play anyone. It doesn’t matter to me. I think the Tour was pretty interesting last year, but from what I was told because I didn’t really follow it, to be honest.”