Emma Raducanu seems very motivated for the upcoming season, as she warned all of her rivals with a motivated statement.
Since winning the US Open in 2021, the British player has been on a rollercoaster ride. At times, she managed to back her Grand Slam win with other impressive results, but at other times, she struggled to find her best form, mostly because of injuries that kept her away from the tennis courts.
In 2024, she could finally compete again, and she's been on her way to completing the most matches in one season in her tennis career. Currently, her record for the season stands at 20-13, with 33 matches trailing only her 2022 season, when she completed 36 matches with a 17-19 record.
However, it's not clear whether she will beat that mark, as, unfortunately, she's struggling with an injury again. After injuring herself at the Korea Open in Seoul, the British player was forced to withdraw from all the following tournaments during the Asian Swing, in which she wanted to compete so much.
Still, she's on the entry list for the Hong Kong Open, keeping hopes of returning to the courts in 2024 alive. In the meantime, she spoke to Women's Health Magazine, reflecting on her journey in the past few years.
"There has been a lot of volatility over the past three years. And I think the most I’ve come into myself has been in the last few weeks. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is non-attachment; acknowledging that everything comes and goes."
"Every moment is fleeting, and how you interact with the present dictates how you feel, the quality of your work, the quality of your relationships, and how much the people around you enjoy being with you."
Raducanu has learned a lot in the past few years, mostly to have a positive outlook on life and not blame luck for struggling with something, in her case, injuries.
"I’ve taught myself not to label things as black or white. For example, with this injury, I’m trying to catch myself and stop labelling it as like, 'Oh, I’m so unlucky, this is so bad.'"
Although Raducanu would maybe be happier without this challenging period in her life and career, there are also many positives to take away from it, as she believes that it made her stronger and more mature.
"I’ve learnt to accept things and reframe them. I’m not completely unable to exercise, so I’ll still do things like yoga or Pilates – low-impact exercise, so I’m focusing on that. I’ve matured a lot in the last few weeks, to be honest."
"Having been through such big changes, wellness to me now is the inner stillness I feel. For me, that might mean doing hot yoga, reading, learning, studying – anything to cultivate my mind."
With everything she's learned over the past few years, especially about herself, the 21-year-old feels ready to challenge for the trophies again, saying that she plans to 'do some damage next year.'
"I take confidence from doing things that really enrich my mind and body and how peaceful I feel. I’m prepared to work hard and do some damage next year."