Grand Slam champion Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Auckland Open due to a back injury, dealing a blow to her preparations for the Australian Open.
The 22-year-old British tennis player was scheduled to face Robin Montgomery of the United States in the first round of the ASB Classic on Tuesday.
However, Raducanu has decided to travel to Melbourne to continue her preparations for the Australian Open, which begins on January 12. Raducanu, a Grand Slam champion and sixth seed at the Auckland warm-up event, expressed her disappointment in a statement:
“I’ve tried my best to be ready. I love Auckland and the fans here, but unfortunately, I’ve picked up a back niggle and won’t be ready in time.”
Since her remarkable US Open victory in 2021, Raducanu has faced persistent injury setbacks. This year, she skipped five tournaments in the WTA’s Asia swing after spraining ligaments in her foot. Additionally, she spent much of the previous season recovering from ankle and wrist surgeries.
The 22-year-old managed to play only three matches after the Seoul injury in September, all of which she won while representing Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. Despite this success, she heads into the Australian Open without any recent match practice.
Last season, Raducanu encountered fewer injury issues but played only 10 matches after Wimbledon and missed the Miami Open in March due to another back problem. To address her fitness challenges, Raducanu has enlisted the help of renowned trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who has been working with her in Auckland.
“I just needed a more tailored approach and someone dedicated solely to me as an individual,” Raducanu said earlier this month. “It’s already bringing a positive change. The integration between my fitness work and on-court training with [coach] Nick [Cavaday] is making a noticeable difference.”
Currently ranked 56th in the world, Raducanu will not be seeded at the Australian Open.