Emma Raducanu was one of the leading attractions going into New Years Eve at the ASB Classic in Auckland but the Brit who has spent most of the past month in Australia and New Zealand preparing for the new season won't start it this week.
Raducanu has withdrawn late from her opening round at the ASB Classic with a back injury as her miserable last few months continues. She was due to play Robin Montgomery at around 06:30am CET on Tuesday morning but instead will head directly to the Australian Open without the vital preparation she wanted.
Raducanu aimed to turn a corner this year after receiving much questioning from fans and pundits alike for her decision to skip tournaments in 2024 albeit seemingly exercising caution after multiple surgeries.
She aimed to put that right hiring the former fitness coach that revolutionised Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka but for her fans and also the ASB Classic, it is an unfortunate start.
It is a tournament that already lost Bianca Andreescu who is an unknown returnee to the sport with her future uncertain. Coco Gauff also won't return to defend her title for the third time. Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova and Naomi Osaka remain the big names involved.
She was quizzed recently about why injuries are such a factor in her career. "Part of it load: This tournament is happening, and I really want to play it, but I’ve not put in enough training and literally in the first match something starts hurting."
"I got into that vicious cycle, and it’s pretty dangerous to be in. So I think just making certain load decisions and ensuring I’ve had a build up and proper training. That my body is ready, rather than just firefighting any niggles."
While this is not a massive cause for concern in terms of her 2025 season, it shows that there is still work to do when it comes to making herself an all conquering force again.
Not a great start to the 2025 season for Emma Raducanu.
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) December 30, 2024
She is out of her opening tournament in Auckland with a back problem, just hours before her opening match.
Will now head to Melbourne and hope to recover in time for the Australian Open.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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