Emma Raducanu’s comeback plan may be clear with Australian Open in mind

Emma Raducanu’s comeback plan is starting to emerge as the Brit plots her return from surgery. The former world No 10 has confirmed that she will be back for the start of the 2024 season but she’s yet to commit to an exact tournament. With Raducanu already opting not to play the United Cup, it means that there are only a few events she could play before the Australian Open.

Raducanu has been sidelined since undergoing three different surgeries in May, having operations on both of her wrists and one ankle. The 2021 US Open champion is now eager to get back on the tennis court and revealed that she would return at the beginning of 2024.

“Not exactly but I will be back for the start of the season for sure,” the 20-year-old told BBC Radio 4 Today when asked if she had a specific comeback date. While Raducanu has not committed to a specific tournament, her previous plans and her absence from the United Cup line-up paint a clear picture of where she could return.

The United Cup has become one of Tennis Australia’s flagship events in the lead-up to the Australian Open as the only team event which merges the ATP and WTA. Great Britain has already named its team with Raducanu absent while Cameron Norrie and Katie Boulter will lead the squad.

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Dan Evans, Francesca Jones and doubles stars Neal Skupski and Maia Lumsden will join them to round out the team. It means that Raducanu has few other options of tournaments that she can play if she wants to get some matches in before the Australian Open.

During the first week of the tennis season from December 31, the WTA Tour is returning to Brisbane for those who want to compete in a regular event at the 500-point Brisbane International. The ASB Classic in Auckland is also taking place from January 1 to 8 – a tournament that Raducanu played in this year.

If Raducanu wants to make her return at the earliest opportunity next season, she could join the field for either Brisbane or Auckland. Given that she has previously played in Auckland, she could opt to return. Tournament director Nicolas Lamperin has already opened the door for the Brit to compete again.

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“There have been some [conversations] but it’s too early to say because we still don’t have a set return date,” he told Stuff. “The door is open if she wants to come, but we have had to go after other players with whom we have more certainty. It’s not off the table but we’d need more time because we still don’t know when she’s coming back.”

There are also two WTA events taking place from January 8 to 13 – the WTA 500 in Adelaide and the WTA 250 in Hobart. It would offer one last chance to play some competitive matches before the Australian Open kicks off on January 14, as the first Grand Slam of the year will now start on a Sunday and be a 15-day tournament.

It remains to be seen whether Raducanu plays on one of both of the weeks available in the run-up to the Australian Open, or whether she waits until the first Major of the season to make her return. But there are only a handful of tournaments left as a potential comeback spot for the 20-year-old after she did not sign up for the United Cup.

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