Emma Raducanu has admitted she is keeping expectations low as she takes it “a day at a time” in her race to be fit for the Australian Open.
The 20-year-old retired from her second-round match in Auckland a week ago after rolling her ankle, leaving the court in tears as she was faced with yet more injury issues.
Her 2022 tennis season was blighted with fitness concerns, with blisters a problem in the early part of the year before a wrist injury forced the British number one to end her season early in October.
Raducanu was in high spirits at the start of this year after her off-season work, and got up and running in Auckland with victory over Linda Fruhvirtova in her first match of 2023.
However, that ankle injury picked up against Viktoria Kuzmova has put her Australian Open participation in doubt, with Raducanu criticising the ASB Classic courts after the match.
The British star remains unsure whether she will be able to compete in Melbourne.
“It was really unfortunate to be honest last week,” Raducanu said.
“I was feeling great about my season and feeling really good with the preparation I did physically.
“I just had an accident on the court, which I don’t know what I could have done to prevent that, so I’m just taking it a day at a time honestly and every single day try as best as possible to see and make progress. We’ll see.
“Hopefully by Monday or whenver the tournanment starts I’ll be OK and ready but we’re just taking it a day at a time and not trying to expect too much at this point.”
