Emma Raducanu has been issued a stark warning about the serious risks of competing at the Australian Open as she battles a significant foot injury. The British No. 1 faces the prospect of a 12-week layoff if the bone bruise on her right foot deteriorates into a stress fracture under the strain of Grand Slam competition.
A Precarious Start to the Season
Raducanu's preparations for the first major of the year have been severely hampered, with the 2021 US Open champion managing just three competitive matches since mid-October. Her recent outing at the Hobart International, where she was top seed, ended in a straight-sets quarter-final defeat to world No. 204 Taylah Preston. Her only victory in Tasmania came against Camila Osorio in the first round.
The 23-year-old's season began at the United Cup, where she lost a three-set battle to Maria Sakkari. More concerning was her withdrawal from a scheduled match against former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka in Perth. Team GB captain Tim Henman highlighted that Raducanu had "struggled with her foot at the end of last year", an issue the player herself describes as "light bone bruising".
Expert Warns of Stress Fracture Danger
Leading injury prevention specialist Stephen Smith has detailed the precarious situation Raducanu finds herself in. Speaking to Tennis365, Smith explained the fine line she must tread. "If she has to overload that, or put too much stress on a bone bruise, the risk is a stress fracture," he stated. "We're talking eight to 12 weeks of time lost."
Smith emphasised the challenge of finding the right balance between competition readiness and injury aggravation. "She has to get the balance right of how much is too much... and how much is enough to get a base to play your season," he said. He described her position as "really unenviable", noting that attempting a tournament like the Australian Open with a disrupted pre-season is "very, very challenging".
The Impact of a Disrupted Pre-Season
The expert outlined how a compromised training block leaves athletes vulnerable. "You ask too much when you don't have that foundational base," Smith said. "You don't have the conditioning, neurological strength, or cardiovascular base. That's when small injuries pop up and can have a meaningful impact on the entire season."
Raducanu's own comments after her United Cup match reveal the extent of the setback. "I started hitting two weeks ago," she admitted, referencing a two-and-a-half-month period without play. "It's been difficult to increase the load and add the unpredictability of tennis." Her training in Barcelona was limited mostly to the gym, with her first proper points played in practice just days before her competitive return on January 4.
Raducanu's schedule remains in flux, with a planned practice session in Melbourne on Friday reportedly shifted to Saturday morning. All eyes will be on the British star as she decides whether to gamble on her fitness at Melbourne Park, with a potential three-month absence hanging in the balance.
