Raducanu will hope her gran gets to see her
Emma Raducanu will face Slovenia’s Polona Hercog tomorrow in the opening round of the Transylvania Open in Romania.
The US Open champion pulled out of this week’s Kremlin Cup in Moscow following her early exit in Indian Wells but will return to action in Cluj-napoca.
Raducanu is still looking for her first victory on the full WTA Tour, a reminder of just how inexperienced she is at this level, and the teenager will hope to claim that against 30-year-old Hercog.
Raducanu is seeded third and has been placed in the same half of the draw as top seed and home hero Simona Halep.
The 18-year-old is sure to have plenty of local support by virtue of her Romanian father and she had hoped her grandmother, who lives in Bucharest, would be able to attend the tournament.
But a worrying rise in coronavirus cases in the country has resulted in a tightening of restrictions, meaning the tournament will be played behind closed doors from Monday.
Organisers criticised the decision and appealed to the government to allow a limited number of spectators.
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty revealed yesterday that she will not defend her season-ending WTA Finals title, nor compete further in 2021 due to quarantine restrictions in her native Australia.
The 25-year-old, who spent two weeks in quarantine after returning from the US Open in September to her home in Brisbane, said she is “not willing to compromise my preparation for January” when the Australian Open is scheduled to begin.
“I wanted to let everyone know that I won’t be competing in any further tournaments in 2021, including the WTA Finals in Mexico,” Barty said in a statement.
“It was a difficult decision but I need to prioritise my body and my recovery from our 2021 season and focus on having the strongest pre-season for the Australian summer.
“With the ongoing challenges of travelling back to Queensland and quarantine requirements, I am not willing to compromise my preparation for January. I wish the WTA team and the players all the best for a successful WTA Finals and rest of the year. “
“My focus is now on the Australian summer and doing everything I can to win the Australian Open. I can’t wait to play at home again.”