Emma Raducanu undergoes hand and ankle surgery, will miss 'next few months' including French Open and Wimbledon
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Updated 06/05/2023 at 09:21 GMT
Emma Raducanu has undergone a "minor procedure" on her hand and had ankle surgery, with a second hand operation scheduled for two weeks’ time. The British No. 1 withdrew from the Madrid Open last week citing a hand injury and has now revealed that she’s had surgery and will be out for "the next few months". Raducanu will miss the French Open and is likely to miss Wimbledon, which starts on July 3.
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Emma Raducanu looks set to miss the French Open and Wimbledon after undergoing surgery twice in three days.
The British No. 1 had a "minor procedure" on her right hand on Wednesday and surgery on her ankle on Friday, and is scheduled to have an operation on her left hand in two weeks’ time.
She has been managing a wrist injury for the last few months and withdrew from the Madrid Open last week shortly before her opening match.
Raducanu decided to undergo a minor procedure in a bid to resolve the long-standing issue.
The 20-year-old said she will be “out for the next few months” and will miss “the summer events”, by which she is likely to mean the two Grand Slams during that period; the French Open and Wimbledon.
In a handwritten note posted on social media on Wednesday, Raducanu said: "It is safe to say the last 10 months have been difficult as I dealt with a recurring injury on a bone of both hands.
"I tried my best to manage the pain and play through it for most of this year and end of last year by reducing practice load dramatically, missing weeks of training as well as cutting last season short to try [to] heal it. Unfortunately, it’s not enough.
"I’m having a minor procedure done on both hands to resolve the issues. I’m disappointed to share that I will be out for the next few months and while I am at it will have another minor procedure that is due on my ankle.
"It pains me that I will miss the summer events and I tried to downplay the issues so I thank all my fans who continued to support me when you did not know the facts.
"Looking forward to seeing you all back out there."
Following surgery on her ankle on Friday, Raducanu said: "I just had my ankle done, so two out of three done and one to go, but not for two weeks' time.”
As well as the French Open and Wimbledon, Raducanu could also miss the US Open, which starts on August 28.
It was in New York where Raducanu made her breakthrough in 2021 as she came through qualifying to win the Grand Slam without dropping a set.
But she has faced some challenging spells since that triumph, including a 2022 season disrupted by niggling injuries.
She showed some encouraging signs at Indian Wells in March as she made the last 16, but then lost in the first round in Miami and Stuttgart.
She is set to drop out of the top 100 in the rankings following the Madrid Open and will fall further over the summer.
Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski said recently that winning the US Open as a teenager has been a "very big burden" for Raducanu.
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"She did the hardest thing you can possibly do in tennis and win a major from qualifying, which we will never see again in our lifetime," he said on Twitter.
"Yes, there has not been a consistent team around her since her victory, which is unfortunate, but she was not prepared for global superstardom after winning the US Open.
"She has felt too much expectation ever since and pressure. The freedom and joy have unfortunately disappeared. I really hope she can find the love of the game she once had and enjoy her tennis.
"If she can get healthy, stay in the moment each day, [with] each practice, there is no reason she cannot get back to having a great career.
"Unfortunately, too much success too early can be a very big burden to carry if you are not prepared for it. I really hope she can get back."
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