Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has opted out of a December exhibition match in Macau as part of her ongoing recovery from hand and foot surgeries.
Turning 21 today, Raducanu, who has not played since April, is eyeing a return to the tour in January. Despite her withdrawal from the exhibition in China, Raducanu’s world ranking has fallen to 289.
However, she retains a protected ranking of 103, enabling her to potentially secure a spot in the Australian Open’s main draw.
Still requiring a wildcard for WTA Tour events in Brisbane and Auckland, Raducanu’s challenging year included operations on both hands and her left ankle, limiting her to nine matches in 2023.
While her rehabilitation initially progressed slowly, recent updates show promising signs.
Raducanu is eager to return to competitive tennis, emphasizing how much she missed the sport and training during her recovery period regardless of not having a dedicated coach and stable support team.
Source: BBC Sports
