Emma Raducanu shared a video on social media of her practising with her left hand.
It emerges as the former US Open champion continues her rehabilitation on her usual playing hand, following an injury to her right wrist that ended her season back in October.
While it will be welcome news for fans of the precocious teenager that she is back on the court and hitting tennis balls, it will raise just as much concern that Raducanu is having to resort to practising with her weaker hand in order to protect her strong one.
James Gray posted the video with the comment, "Emma Raducanu is back on court hitting balls... but playing left handed as she continues rehab on her right wrist. Vid on her Instagram makes me confident she could still beat me".
The talented young Brit has endured a very difficult twelve months since her simply stunning victory in the US Open in September 2021, winning ten matches on the bounce as an unknown 18 year-old qualifier without dropping a set.
Media focus and attention on Raducanu has been intense, and so has the criticism. Expectations for Emma are already sky-high, yet she had only competed in three WTA tour events before this year.
Anyone else at this stage of their career would have praise heaped on them for any and all WTA level match wins. Instead, the tables are turned for Raducanu, who is heavily criticised for any loss.
Add to this the fact that she has suffered multiple injuries as her body gets used to the rigours of a full year on tour, and it has been a chastening maiden season for Emma.
If she can get on top of the recurring injuries and find some form away from the intensity of the media glare that was on her this year, then Raducanu can be an absolute force in the game. Patience and time are key here, she is still very new to all of this.
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