After successfully managing a persistent back issue, British number one Emma Raducanu is slated to compete in the Lexus Eastbourne Open next week, a crucial warm-up before Wimbledon begins on June 30.
The 22-year-old, who reached the quarter-finals at Eastbourne last year, has been prioritizing rest and recovery since experiencing discomfort in May. Raducanu, Britain’s top-ranked female tennis player, even required a medical timeout during her recent loss to Zheng Qinwen at the Queen’s Club due to ongoing back problems that first appeared during the Strasbourg tournament. Despite these setbacks, she has confirmed her fitness for the upcoming Eastbourne event.
Raducanu’s Eastbourne Challenge
Raducanu will face America’s Ann Li in her opening match on Monday, aiming to build on her past strong performances on grass. Last year at Eastbourne, she notably defeated top-seeded Jessica Pegula before reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, making a significant impact on the grass-court season.
Seeded seventh this year, Raducanu is part of a strong British contingent at Eastbourne, which also includes Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart, Sonay Kartal, and Mingge Xu. If she advances, a potential second-round match against two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur could be on the horizon, with defending champion and world No.16 Daria Kasatkina as a possible quarter-final opponent.
Reflecting on her injury, Raducanu admitted:
“It’s been lingering for the last few weeks and I have had back issues before. I think it’s just a vulnerability of mine. I know I need to take good care of it. I’m not overly concerned that it’s something serious, but I know it’s something that’s very annoying and needs proper and careful management.”
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