Emma Raducanu has not played a WTA match since September. (Image: Getty)
injury nightmare is continuing into 2025, with the British player now ruled out of this week’s event in Auckland. The sixth seed had been scheduled to face America’s Robin Montgomery on Tuesday in the ASB Classic, which traditionally helps players build up for the
But Raducanu’s preparation for the first Grand Slam of the year .
She will now fly straight to Melbourne in a bid to be fit for the tournament, which begins on January 12.
“I tried my best to be ready,” said the world No.56. “I love Auckland and the fans here, but unfortunately I have picked up a back niggle and won’t be ready in time.”
The 22-year-old has now not played a WTA match since September . The same injury then forced her to withdraw from the China Open, Ningbo Open, and Hong Kong Open.
And a lack of playing time is far from ideal preparation for the opening Grand Slam of the year, where Raducanu will be hoping to lay down a marker for 2025.
Raducanu won all three of his matches at the Billie Jean King Cup. (Image: Getty)
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She did return for the Billie Jean King Cup finals in Spain, impressing by winning all three of her singles’ matches as Team GB made the semi-finals. And she’s recently , who has been out with her in Auckland.
“I just needed a more tailored approach and I needed someone more dedicated to me alone as an individual and I’m looking forward to what comes with this,” she said of the partnership this month. “It definitely adds another dimension to the way me and (coach) Nick Cavaday work.
“It’s all become, in a very positive way, integrated and together and connected. “And we can see already things transfer on to the tennis court that we do in the gym.”
This year, Raducanu has shown flashes of the form that sparked her incredible breakthrough win at the 2021 reaching the last-16 at . But she has played just 10 matches since, and heads down under desperately short of match practice.
One British female star has benefited from an injury development in Auckland though. Jodie Burrage lost in qualifying but was given a spot in the main draw as a late lucky loser, after Belgium’s Elise Mertens withdrew.
The world number 179 made the most of her opportunity with a 6-3 6-3 win over New Zealand wildcard Vivian Yang. She’ll now play American Hailey Baptiste in the second round.