Time ticking away for any Raducanu return

Any injury return from Emma Raducanu is starting to fade after the former US Open winner withdrew from a pre-season exhibition this month.

The Brit who shattered expectations by winning the New York Grand Slam two years ago from a qualifying start has not touched a racquet on the Tour since Stuttgart last April.

After compiling a listless 5-5 record in 2023, the 21-year-old then shut up shop, undergoing surgeries on both wrist along with a knee.

Reports of a return to the WTA  have all been premature, with Raducanu making plenty of social media impressions while staying away from the London practice court.

Her team – still minus out a coach – have not yet entered her in any Australian summer events and are keeping quiet.

Raducanu recently dropped minimal hints to the Tennis Channel regarding her future plans:

“I love competition and I like playing. It sometimes happens that I decide not to train one day, but my motivation is what stimulates me to want to play,” she said.

The former breakout name who nabbed a handful of high-profile sponsors after her Grand Slam success does not appear to be in a hurry to return to the sport 

“Through the whole (recovery) period, I’ve been doing a lot off court, reading a lot and watching some tennis,” she said.

“Mentally, I feel like I’m in a better place to compete now than I ever have been before since the US Open,” she told Amazon Prime.

“Obviously when you’re playing you have little to no time to do anything. So, it was nice to have some time to learn new skills and do things I’d never done or tried before.”

Her final word on the subject: “At the end of the day, I’m itching to get back on court.

“I’m hoping to get back on board for next season. When you haven’t competed for a long time It’s going to probably take me some tournaments to get up to speed. 

“But, once I do, I think I’m in a better headspace to compete now.”