EMMA: I’M READY TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL

After injuries and loss of form, unburdened Raducanu is set to soar

EMMA RADUCANU claimed she will play this season without lugging “a backpack of rocks” as she makes her Grand Slam return at the Australian Open.

And the 2021 US Open winner, who has been dogged by injuries since her New York triumph, claimed: “I think my level is just too good not to come through if I put consistent work together.”

Raducanu is playing her first Major for a year after undergoing ankle and wrist surgery in May.

Now down at world No.299 and here in Melbourne on a protected ranking, Raducanu meets world No.156 Shelby Rogers in the first round. That could be a good omen because Raducanu beat the American on her way to her shock Major title win more than two years ago.

And, speaking to the British media for the first time in over eight months, the 21-year-old said: “I feel a lot lighter now than I did for a long time after the US Open. I feel like I’m not playing with a backpack of rocks. I feel pretty light and happy.

“People are very important, the people who I surround myself with. Surrounding yourself with competent and knowledgeable people is really important, but also important is their character in terms of making sure we get on and intentions are good.” Raducanu split with German coach Sebastian Sachs during her rehabilitation in June and is working with her childhood tutor Nick Cavaday in Melbourne.

“In the off-season, when I was in the UK training, I had a bit of a setback and started with rehab, then fitness in November, then kind of started hitting again late November, December,” she said. “Being in the NTC (the National Tennis Centre), I was working alongside the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), who helped me big time. They did a lot for me in the gym and with physio. Nick was also around.

“I asked him because he coached me when I was 10 to 12. We’re just seeing how it goes but it’s been working well so far. I hope to continue with him because I feel very comfortable with him. I know his sister really well.”

Raducanu rolled her ankle in Auckland last January but played through the pain at the Australian Open before stopping her season – and missing the last three Majors – in April.

“Success to me is to play a full season, to be healthy throughout, and to be able to train week after week,” she said. “I know my level is there, now I just need to keep working on it to make it more consistent.

“That will come with time in the gym, time on court, being able to play the calendar, and not thinking: ‘Will I have to pull out from this one? Does that hurt?’ I think my level is too good not to come through if I put consistent work together.”

Raducanu is given a 50-1 quote from bookies to be crowned queen of Melbourne in a fortnight.

The 9-4 favourite is Iga Swiatek, and then comes Aryna Sabalenka at 9-2 and Elena Rybakina at 5-1.