Emma Raducanu: Former US Open champion says she can be a dangerous opponent for anyone at Australian Open

Emma Raducanu declared herself ready to compete with the best players at the
Australian Open after recovering from a back spasm.

The 22-year-old pulled out of her scheduled warm-up tournament in Auckland last week with what she described as a back niggle but has been training at Melbourne Park this week.

Raducanu revealed during her pre-tournament press conference that the source of the problem was a spasm suffered while training in London.

“I’ve been feeling good,” she said. “I think the last 10 days I’ve had a positive block of training. Coming back on the court, adapting to the conditions here, has been good for me. Now I feel good and I feel ready to give it my best here.

“One morning I was warming up, bent over to tie my laces, and I had a spasm. That was really it. It took a while to clear. I’ve had them before. They’ve usually settled within a few days. But this one niggled for a couple of weeks. I had to miss quite a bit of training before I left, wasn’t able to play Auckland.”

It was another physical setback for Raducanu, who played only 10 matches last year after Wimbledon, missing two months with a foot injury before recovering in time to play for Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup in November.

There she won all her three matches and her confidence has been buoyed by good performances in practice this week.

“I’ve been playing sets with top players,” she said. “I’m feeling like I’m holding my own more than OK in those instances and practices. I feel pretty good with my game. I’m looking forward to putting it on the match court. I think I can be a dangerous opponent for anyone really.”

Raducanu has been handed a difficult draw against 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who she had been due to play at Wimbledon last summer before the 30-year-old pulled out.

“It’s a tricky draw, of course,” said Raducanu of Tuesday’s contest. “Being unseeded, you can play any top opponent. She’s a player with a lot of experience. I guess I’m coming in with the underdog mentality. She’s been in this situation many more times than I have.”

A new member of Raducanu’s team for this season is renowned fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, with the former US Open champion hoping he will help improve her physical resilience and achieve her potential.

She is not expecting overnight results, saying: “I think building a body, that’s a continuous process. I think it’s not something that you necessarily put a timeline on.

“Like, ‘okay, in a year I’m going to be a top athlete’. Even when you’re a top athlete, there’s always things you can do better. But I think I do already feel a difference when I step on the court.

“I feel like I’m quite reactive and explosive. I think that stems from my warm-ups being not necessarily warm-ups but they’re more like a bit of a session. I feel just ready to go when I’m on the court.

“As for how long it’s going to take, I’m not sure. I trust his work and trust his judgment.”

Boulter: That number is by my name for a reason

Britain’s leading woman is Katie Boulter, who is the 22nd seed and looking to continue her upward momentum.

Boulter is now targeting the top 10, and showed what a danger she can be to the leading players by pushing world No 2 Iga Swiatek all the way at the United Cup last week.

“Iga is one of the best in the game,” said Boulter. “I really felt like I could have got over that line. I felt like I was quite calm in that situation, as well, which is something that I’ve not always felt when playing massive players.

“I think that kind of mindset is going to help me win those matches. I truly believe I can do it.

“I believe that number is by my name for a reason. I want to move it higher and higher.”

Boulter, who is guaranteed home support following her engagement to Australian No 1 Alex De Minaur, opens her campaign against Canadian Rebecca Marino on Tuesday.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

• ABN AMRO Open Rotterdam (ATP 500) – 3-9 February
• Dallas Open (ATP 500) – 3-9 February
• Delray Beach Open (ATP 250) – 10-16 February
• IEB+ Argentina Open (ATP 250) – 10-16 February
• Open 13 Provence (ATP 250) – 10-16 February
• Transylvania Open (WTA 250) – 3-9 February
• Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (WTA 500) – 3-8 February
• Qatar TotalEnergies Open (WTA 1000) – 9-15 February
• Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (WTA 1000) – 16-22 February

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