Why Raducanu’s return is so important after tears, torment
The importance of Emma Raducanu’s return to the ASB Classic in 2024 can’t be underestimated.
Even if her ranking has blown out due to a long injury- enforced break, the British player i s genuine box office, mainly due to the enduring fascination with her achievements at the 2021 US Open, with her triumph as a qualifier, which catapulted her from unknown to megastar.
She sells tickets, brings media attention and transcends tennis, a name known beyond the confines of her sport. Her presence is desperately needed by a tournament that has been hamstrung by the new WTA regulations, which essentially take top- 30 players out of the picture, even if they want to come here.
It’s also a vote of confidence in the event, given the dramatic circumstances of her exit in 2023.
Back on January 6, the chances of Raducanu playing in Auckland again felt remote, after she rolled her ankle on a “very slippery” indoor court and retired in tears.
Raducanu had enjoyed her time here with some sightseeing and was thrilled with the crowd reception during her first- round win, saying it felt like “playing at home”.
But everything changed two days later after she had to concede against Viktoria Kuzmova with the score at 6- 0 5- 7 in the second round.
She was distraught about the “freak injury”, saying the makeshift courts were “incredibly slick”, adding that it was “not a surprise that this happens to someone”.
Those quotes prompted ASB Classic tournament director Nicolas Lamperin to call a press conference the next day to address the criticism and defend the state of the surface.
It still felt as if the bridge was broken. But she’s back as a wildcard and will be a marquee name.
Lamperin began discussions with her team in July before a deal was finalised last month.
“It’s testimony to the fact that this tournament is important to her and it can be the right preparation on the way back to the top,” Lamperin told the Weekend Herald.
“Everything was taken out of proportion last year. If we had any doubt about the playability of the indoor courts, we would not have used them. They were checked by the WTA supervisor. It was extremely unfortunate but we are glad to welcome her back and hope she has a much better experience.”
Lamperin confirmed there had been conversations about what happened in January.
“We have spoken about the issue. She was not necessarily upset about the rain and the fact she was playing indoors. She was really disappointed about being injured again. She had been battling through injuries, she had just come from the off- season, looked good on court, played a strong first match and wanted to continue that. Sadly, she has had some more injuries after here.”
After the ASB Classic, Raducanu played only eight more matches. She reached the second round at the Australian Open — eliminated by Auckland champion Coco Gauff — then enjoyed a good run at Indian Wells, eliminated in the round of 16
First- round losses followed in Miami and Stuttgart before she stepped away from the tour for surgery on both wrists and an ankle.
Inactivity saw her ranking blow out to 296, although Lamperin says she can climb back to the summit.
“She made the right decision to take time off tour and fix all the things she needed. It’s going to be a long journey back and we’re happy to be part of that process.
“She’s a big star and we know how good she is, regardless of her ranking. What she has achieved — and people tend to forget — but it was one of the most remarkable achievements in women’s tennis.”
American Amanda Anisimova was the other wildcard confirmed this week. The 2020 Auckland semifinalist — who also reached the last four at the 2019 French Open — has been off the circuit since May, citing mental health challenges.
World No 3 Gauff heads the field, with Elina Svitolina ( 25) the second seed, ahead of a clutch of players ranked 31 to 43.
Raducanu, Anisimova and Caroline Wozniacki complete an all- star cast of wildcards, with the fourth to be distributed to the winner of the New Zealand playoff next month.
Everything was taken out of proportion last year. She was really disappointed about being injured again. She had been battling through injuries.
Nicolas Lamperin