“Amazing to be playing pain free”: Raducanu gets “extra sweet” victory in Australian Open

It remains to be seen when or even if Emma Raducanu will get back to her Grand Slam-winning best, but for now a first-round win at the Australian Open is extremely positive news.

Playing in a major for the first time since last year’s festivities at Melbourne Park, Raducanu kicked off her fortnight with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Shelby Rogers on Tuesday. It was the Brit’s first victory of any kind since Indian Wells last March and her first match since Stuttgart in April.

Afterward, Raducanu was predictably thrilled.

“I’m very happy to have come through that,” the 21-year-old commented. “I think being my first slam match back, it is definitely a little bit extra sweet. I knew going in Shelby’s a player with experience. She’s had some great wins in her career. Yeah, I knew I was going to have to try my best to neutralize her serve, keep concentration, and focus on [my serve]. I’m happy with the way I came through that today.

Raducanu was also pleasantly surprised by the crowd support on Court 1573, although many would have expected such a warm reception for the 2021 US Open champion.

“I really love that court, 1573,” she said. “I think always at tournaments you have certain affinities with a specific court. I think for me here 1573 is definitely one where I feel very comfortable.

Going out there today I think I was a little bit taken aback by just the support straight when I walked out. I think it was better than any year I’ve really had before here. It was just amazing to see all the signs, hear the support. It was pretty incredible. So, yeah, I was very happy to be able to play in those sort of circumstances again.”

I don’t have any fear or any restrictions on anything.

Emma Raducanu

Most importantly, Raducanu is currently 100 percent from a physical standpoint. She spent the last seven months of 2023 recovering from wrist surgery.

 “It’s amazing to be pain free with the wrists,” the world No 296 assured. “I honestly didn’t know if I’d ever get to this stage. Yeah, it just amazing to be playing pain free. I had pain for so long. I was playing since before the US swing in 2022 all the way before surgery.

It was difficult because I wasn’t able to train — I wasn’t able to practice. Then having to go play and compete against the best in the world with an hour a day, while not playing for two weeks trying to settle the pain down, is very difficult. I think the time away made me very hungry. I’m just happy to be healthy again and pain free.

“My wrists have been really good. I have been doing my rehab religiously every single day…. Yeah, it’s paid off. I don’t have any fear or any restrictions on anything. I’ve passed all the return-to-play markers. My grip strength is higher than ever. It’s just about continuing doing the boring rehab.”

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