Emma Raducanu is stepping up her rehabilitation as she continues to work on her game in China. The Brit was spotted on the practice courts in Shenyang last month and appears to have hunkered down there as she looks ahead to a comeback on the WTA Tour.
The north-eastern Chinese city is her mother’s home and Raducanu admits her visit to China was predominantly to see her family and “re-immerse herself in the culture”. She told Porsche: “I really love it here in China. I would spend three weeks here every summer since before I can remember and to be back here feels so comforting.”
But the 2021 US Open champion is also using her time in China to continue her rehabilitation. It’s still unclear when Raducanu plans to make her comeback on the WTA Tour, but the Asian swing begins at the end of this month.
China has also had a big influence on the British tennis ace’s game as she admits Li Na was her inspiration growing up. Raducanu added: “A big inspiration was Li Na growing up, I liked looking up to her resilient mentality and athletic footwork.”
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She spoke earlier this year about how much she was looking forward to playing in China as she’s been unable to do so since breaking out onto the tour.
“I’ll just be extremely excited to play in China,” Raducanu said in January. “I love interacting with the fans and just spending time with them or seeing them on the court at matches.
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“I have really fond memories, the fans in China get so into it and they love you, the player.
“I remember when I went to the China Open when I was eight years old, I was one of the people in the crowd so I’ll be able to play that tournament myself is pretty special and I’m really looking forward to getting out there.” Those comments came before Raducanu decided to undergo surgery on both her wrists.
Fitness issues had plagued Raducanu’s start to the year and it was clear that her wrists were causing her problems. She ended up choosing to undergo surgery at the beginning of May and made her first return to a tennis court three months later.
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