Emma Raducanu dealt fresh blow just days before Australian Open campaign
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Emma Raducanu's Australian Open preparations were dealt a blow, with the British star forced to pull out of the ASB Classic in Auckland. Raducanu reached the second round in Melbourne last year before going further at Wimbledon in July She climbed back into the world's top 100 after a torrid time with injuries, and a strong showing in the early part of the year could keep her in contention for a top 50 return.
The British No.2 sustained a back injury before Christmas, though, interrupting her training. She is still on course to take part in the Australian Open, but without the full build-up she might have wanted. Raducanu was named as sixth seed in Auckland, with home favourite Lulu Sun - her conqueror at SW19 in the summer - seeded fourth. It was due to be the 22-year-old's first seeding at a WTA event in more than two years, with Robin Montgomery awaiting in the first round, but instead that wait will do on.
Earlier in the year, Raducanu started working with new fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura. “I think he is going to help me just really explore how far I can go, like athletically," she said after linking up with Nakamura, who previously worked with Maria Sharapova.
"I think it’s a big strength of mine that I have nowhere near fulfilled. I think I can become one of the best athletes out there in tennis and I’m just looking forward to seeing how much I can do. "And I think he's really going to help with that. And the way I'm working with him and Nick [coach Nick Cavaday], it's a lot more integrated.".
