It was like playing with a backpack full of rocks. But now I feel free

Emma Raducanu in lighter mood as, free of injury and expectation at last, she embarks on Aussie Open campaign

For Emma raducanu, the 2021 US open brought with it global fame, millions in the bank and, as she puts it, ‘a backpack of rocks’. The 21-year-old from Kent has retained the first two but happily shed the third as she goes into the Australian open, her first Grand Slam event for a year.

‘I feel a lot lighter now than I did for a long time after the US open, like I’m not playing with a backpack of rocks, I feel pretty light and happy,’ she said.

That has been the pay-off from a near eight-month hiatus to her career, during which she had surgery on her wrists and ankle. Absence has made the heart grow fonder. There has been a joy in being able to work unencumbered by injury, and it has kindled the steely self-belief that once saw her, as an 18-year- old, win 10 consecutive matches at Flushing Meadows without dropping a set.

‘My level is just too good not to come through if I put consistent work together,’ she reflected with the matter-of-factness of someone who expects to make prompt inroads into her ranking of 299.

The signs looked good last week when she came close to beating formidable Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in Auckland. More will be known when she tackles Shelby rogers here on Monday or Tuesday, the same player she beat in the last 16 during that extraordinary week in New York.

To an extent this has the feel of a reset, although there is still a

surfeit of the same exterior noise around her that has been partly self-generated.

This week she pulled out of two exhibition commitments that had been made, deciding she would be better off concentrating on less formal practice. Yesterday that took the form of separate sparring sessions with compatriots Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage.

Already this month she is on to having a second coach in her support box, Nick Cavaday having flown in to replace Jane o’Donoghue, the long-time friend and mentor who had accompanied her to New Zealand.

In an era when some tennis players opt for entourages that resemble those befitting a head of state, raducanu still chooses to eschew the established norms of a regular support team. The only people with her in Australia are Cavaday and her mother, renee, who she feels she can trust implicitly. Cavaday stepped in after she did her initial comeback training with the Lawn Tennis Association staff at roehampton.

‘I was working alongside the LTA, who helped me big-time, they did a lot for me in the gym and also physio, tennis,’ she said. ‘Then Nick was also around. I asked him, because he coached me when I was between 10 and 12.

‘We’re just taking it how it goes. It’s been working really well so far. of course I hope to continue with him because I feel comfortable with him. I know his sister (former GB player Naomi) really well because everyone is from Bromley.’

He has tour experience with Aljaz Bedene and Davis Cup doubles specialist Dom Inglot. Having been through so many coaches already, and being sceptical of their long-term value, raducanu’s current position is that she wants someone with whom she knows what she is getting. He will also be under no illusions about his possible shelf-life.

Her post-US open experience has left her with a certain wariness: ‘reflecting on the past I think surrounding yourself with competent and knowledgeable people is, of course, really important, but also the type of person and their character, just making sure we really get on and that intentions are really good.

‘I have realised the only person that can help you is yourself, regardless of who you talk to. I feel like no one can really kind of tell me anything because no one’s been in my position or situation.’

The operations back in May left her totally incapacitated for several weeks, and lent a perspective: ‘For a period of time I had a scooter to move around. I couldn’t, like, text or anything.

‘The feeling of not being able to move your body, to walk to the kitchen to get a snack, for example, I couldn’t do it. And you miss it. You don’t really realise it until you go through it yourself.’

She is thus setting modest goals for this fortnight and the rest of the year. ‘Success to me in the long term is to play a full season, to be healthy throughout, to be able to train consistent weeks,’ said raducanu.

‘I know my level is there, I just need to keep working on it to make it more consistent. Not thinking about, “Will I have to pull out from this one?” “Does that hurt?”.’

The talent will not have dissipated, and the unorthodox approach of herself and her father, Ian, will ultimately be measured in the harsh currency of results.

It is certainly different from that of British No 1 Boulter, who has engaged Andy Murray’s former fitness trainer, Matt Little, to work with her back at home. This season has already yielded a victory for her over world No 5 Jessica Pegula.

Both Boulter and Burrage reported that raducanu was striking the ball well, but from experience of extensive injuries the former warned that seeing improvement is not a swift process.

‘How long it took me to get back, it really isn’t easy,’ said Boulter. ‘Trust me, it’s not something that you can just pick up like that. But it seems like she’s playing very well. I’m sure it’s going to be a great year for her. I’m expecting big things.’

raducanu could hardly have asked for a better draw as 31-yearold rogers has not played a competitive match in seven months.

With all eight GB players having failed to make it through qualifying, Boulter will be optimistic about beating China’s Yue Yuan in her main draw opener, and Burrage is the only British player slated to play on the opening Sunday, up against Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch.