Australian Open: Laura Robson 'really happy' for Emma Raducanu on return ahead of upcoming Grand Slam
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ByOli Gent
Updated 09/01/2024 at 11:36 GMT
Eurosport expert Laura Robson has been encouraged by Emma Raducanu's performances since the Briton's comeback from a nine-month injury lay-off. Raducanu made the second round of the Auckland tournament but lost in a tight match to Elina Svitolina. Robson says that at this stage of her return to tennis “results don't matter as long as she's healthy."
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Eurosport expert Laura Robson is hopeful for the returning Emma Raducanu, who is stepping up her preparation ahead of the Australian Open.
Raducanu, who has been out of action after a nine-month injury lay-off, returned to the tour at the turn of the year, and impressed in Auckland.
The Brit, who is now ranked 301, will play in the Kooyong Classic, an exhibition event in Melbourne.
She was also set to play Naomi Osaka in a charity event on Tuesday but both players withdrew due to "precautionary reasons”.
Robson has watched the 21-year-old’s rehabilitation in recent months, and she is pleased that the Bromley-born former US Open champion is enjoying hitting tennis balls again.
"I know how hard she's worked over the last, probably eight or nine months since her surgery, and to have all of those things done at one time, she was out of action, she was on crutches and she had a wrist cast on, she had an ankle boot on.
“I've seen her a little bit at the National Centre in London and she's been hitting the ball so cleanly. She's been working really hard in the gym and she has a coach that she's worked with in the past with her at the moment.
“I think if you have that comfort of knowing each other really well, knowing that you have that support from the side, which always makes a difference.
“I'm just really happy for her. As someone who's really struggled with injuries in the past, to see her really shine again on the court and be pain free, that's the most important thing. For the next six months at least, I really think the results don't matter as long as she's healthy."
Robson, who herself peaked at world No. 27, has been encouraged by Raducanu’s performances since her comeback.
The Briton made the second round in Auckland, beating Elena Gabriela-Ruse, before falling to Elina Svitolina.
“She's played really well,” Robson said. “I saw the match against Svitolina that she ended up losing, but I was so impressed by how she hit the ball.
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"It's again that freedom of being away from the sport for quite a long time and feeling like, ‘Actually, the reason I picked up a racquet is because I just love hitting the ball and I love playing tennis’, which I think a lot of people lose along the way.
“I'm sure I felt it at times where it feels more like a job than the initial reason why you started.”
Robson also touched upon another star returning to the women’s game, Naomi Osaka, who made her comeback bow in Brisbane having given birth to her first child.
Robson, who reached the third round of the Australian Open back in 2013, voiced her confidence in Osaka’s game, and believes that rustiness will not be an issue for the Japanese player.
"[I’m] very confident [about her],” Robson said. “She was hitting the ball so beautifully.
"The ball striking for Naomi never went away and she's got the natural skills in her hand to be able to hit through so many people.
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"The power of her racquet is [perfect on] a fast hard court. If it's playing quite fast and if the balls are flying through the air [in] hot and heavy conditions, then she's going to be tough for anyone to beat.
“I love that there's a resurgence of mums coming back and we've had Svitolina, Caroline Wozniacki, Angie Kerber.
“It's exciting to come back [from pregnancy]. I think it's less pressure. Maybe you can be a bit more relaxed about it and just enjoy actually playing matches again."
“Inevitably you're going to be more relaxed because you realise tennis is just a sport and as soon as you have a family there's something that's always a bit more important than however you play that day.
“So I think without even being that aware of it, [Naomi] would feel more relaxed and she would feel like she can enjoy herself a bit more because that was kind of the trouble in the past before she took the break; that you felt like she was putting so much pressure on herself to play well.
“It was preventing her from being the Naomi that we know she can be because I think with her type of tennis - with the big ball strike and everything - you have to be relaxed.
“I feel like she can do some real damage in Australia."
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