British No 1 Emma Raducanu has continued her run of poor form after she crashed out after the first round at the Indian Wells Masters in California.
This was her fourth tournament of the season so far, but she’s only managed to get two wins under her belt – one at the Australian Open and the other in Mexico at the Abierto de Guadalajara.
However, there is a common denominator between all these performances – she’s suffered with an injury.
Coming down with a bout of Covid just weeks before the 19-year-old was meant to kick off her first full season on the WTA Tour wasn’t exactly ideal for Raducanu, but the setbacks haven’t let up since then.
The Bromley local had to deal with blisters on her hands at the Happy Slam in Australia, she picked up a hip injury in Mexico which ruled her out of the Monterrey Open and now at the BNP Paribas Open she’s been complaining of having a stiff back.
It just isn’t looking good for her, especially since these injuries are pretty much beyond her control.
However, Raducanu herself won’t be too downhearted as she hasn’t put a lot of pressure on herself this season.
“I feel like big expectations of me probably happened after the US Open, I think everyone just suddenly expected me to win everything and clean up everything I played,” the world No 15 explained in her post-match interview after getting beat by Caroline Garcia in the opening round at Indian Wells.
“But realistically before that if you would have said to me, ‘Emma what is your goal for the year?’ I’d be like, ‘Okay I want to win one round in the main draw of a Grand Slam, I did that in Australia.
“That to me last year probably would have made my year to be honest – what might be a poor result now in people’s eyes to me would have been a positive thing.”
At the end of the day, Raducanu should only care about how she feels, not about everyone else’s expectations of her, so if she’s happy and content with her tennis so far this season, then that’s that.
The British sensation is next set to play at the Miami Open which gets underway from March 22nd, 2022.
Words by Lucy Roberts for Female First, who you can follow on Twitter, @Lucy_Roberts_72.
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