Emma Raducanu plans to go ahead with her first-round match at Wimbledon on Monday, despite the real danger that she could aggravate an ongoing leg injury.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since she played the final of Queen’s a fortnight ago, Raducanu admitted that she had been very light on court time since that tournament.
But she also said that she is prepared to risk further damage to her body because of the importance of this event.
There are certain tournaments you’re willing to do more for, put yourself on the line more for, risk more for,” Raducanu explained. “For me, of course, Wimbledon is that.”
Earlier on Sunday, during an hour-long session at Aorangi Park – the training area at the top of the Wimbledon site – Raducanu hit some serves, some returns and some “plus-one” shots, tennis jargon for the third shot of a rally.
Raducanu was striking the ball fluently, but over the course of the hour she did not do a great deal of moving from side to side. She was still wearing strapping on the lower part of her right shin.
Her mood looked upbeat as she was pictured courtside smiling alongside Jill Smoller, Serena Williams’ sports agent and confidante.
But Antonia Ruzic, the Croatian world No 60 whom she is due to face in the first round, is the sort of player who will put a lot of balls in court and make her cover a lot of ground.
More to follow...