Emma Raducanu has been away from the tennis courts for nearly two months, but she victoriously returned at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Although incredibly talented, the British player still seems to be always surrounded by some injury talks every now and then. It finally seemed like she would be able to complete a full season without some major issues, but a disaster struck at the 2024 Korea Open in Seoul.
Raducanu was excited about the Asian swing, something she had expressed multiple times. She has roots in China, as her mother comes from the country, so competing in Asia is very special to her.
Unfortunately, she didn't get to play in front of the Chinese fans this year, as she retired only after 31 minutes in her quarter-final match against Daria Kasatkina in Seoul, and after that, she missed the remainder of the season, until the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Raducanu joined the British team in Malaga in hopes of boosting the team's chances of succeeding at the team competition. Their team is really strong, which is highlighted by the fact that Raducanu is their No. 2 player.
After already three first-round ties were played at the competition, Great Britain took on Germany in the last first-round tie of the tournament, with the winner progressing to the quarter-final. Canada already awaits the better of the two countries, after Canadians received a first-round BYE.
In her first match at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, Raducanu played against Jule Niemeier, who was a perfect opponent for her. She bested the German in Chicago in 2021, even though Niemeier retired from that match, and Raducanu's opponent was also coming into this meeting on a three-match losing streak.
For someone who has not played since September, this was a perfect opponent, and it didn't take long for Raducanu to show that she was the better player on the court.
The Brit was perfect when it mattered. She used her third break point of the match to lead 4-3 in the opening set, and after that, she saved a total of five break points in the following game to keep her lead. As a result, she was able to win the first set 6-4.
Raducanu kept the pressure high after that, breaking immediately in the first game of the second set. However, she then couldn't add to it, failing to convert two break points in the third game, and instead of going 3-0 up, her opponent broke back, and the score was tied again at 2-2.
After that, the 2021 US Open champion had a little trouble closing out the match. She led 5-2 and had her first match point in the eighth game of the second set, but she couldn't use it.
She then had three more match points in the following game at 5-3, but again, those remained unused. Ultimately, she finally converted her sixth match point, winning the match 6-4, 6-4 to secure Great Britain's first point against Germany at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Naturally, she was very happy about her comeback, as she couldn't have started better than with a straight-sets win while representing her country.
"I think I played some really good tennis today. Playing Jule on an indoor hard court isn’t easy. It’s a game of holding serve and trying to get a break when you can. I hadn’t played a match in a long time."
"So I think these small sharpness things will come with the more matches I play. I’m very proud of how I regrouped and managed to close it out in the final game."
Raducanu also thanked the British crowd present in Malaga. They supported her throughout the match, and they also celebrated her birthday, which she had on Wednesday, with a little birthday song.
"We had a lot of support. Thanks to everyone over here. Obviously, it helps a lot to have so much support. The team, each and every one of us are all playing our role. We wouldn’t be here without every member."
"I’m very proud of myself but also of every time member playing their role as best as possible me. For sacrificing certain things.. for leading us into the finals and starting 1-0 up."