Emma Raducanu has added another event to her return schedule as the Brit received a wild card entry for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open.
Raducanu has some history with Abu Dhabi, as she was set to play an exhibition match with Ons Jabeur there in 2021. It was supposed to take place only a few months after she announced herself on the biggest stage by winning the 2021 US Open.
Unfortunately, an injury prevented her from playing that year, but she returned the next year. Jabeur and Raducanu faced each other in 2022 with the Tunisian winning the match 5-7, 6-3, 10-8. Raducanu had a wonderful time and will now return to the city in a more serious format.
The city first hosted an event back in 2021, and it proved to be a great success. The event didn't return to the calendar next year but was held in 2023 and will be held in 2024 as well. Raducanu will be one of those competing at the event because she received and accepted a wild card entry.
The British player recently returned to the sport at the Auckland event, where she played two matches, winning and losing the other. She bested Elena Ruse 6-3 4-6 7-5 in the first match back but then was beaten by Elina Svitolina 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 1-6.
Much of last year was spent on the sidelines recovering from triple surgery that happened because of multiple injuries that prevented her from playing the way she wanted. She declared herself injury-free ahead of this year and returned with a pretty solid level.
By the time Abu Dhabi rolls around in February (3-11), Raducanu will have a few more matches in her tally and should be getting close to a really solid level. Part of her return will be getting used to playing regularly, and that seems to be the plan.
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