Emma Raducano has withdrawn from her first event of the season at the ASB Classic in Auckland after suffering a back problem.
The British No. 2 now plans to travel to Melbourne and prepare for the Australian Open without a competitive warm-up match.
Former US Open winner Yutaka Nakamura added Maria Sharapova’s former fitness coach to her squad last month in a bid to end a long list of injury problems.
But Raducano, 22, had her preparations disrupted by “back pain” before Christmas, and she failed to regain full fitness.
she said. “I tried my best to be ready. I love Auckland and the fans here but unfortunately I had a bad back and I won’t be ready in time.
Her condition did not improve enough to play her opening match against American Robin Montgomery in New Zealand.
Raducano, ranked 56th in the world, sprained her left ankle while playing on indoor courts in Auckland in the second round in January 2023, then lost in the second round in Melbourne.
The Bromley-based star also suffered a ligament injury in the quarter-finals of the Korea Open in September – her final appearance on the WTA Tour. She won all three matches in the Billie Jean King Cup finals in Malaga last month.
After missing most of 2023 due to wrist and ankle surgeries, Raducano this summer reached the semifinals in Nottingham, beat Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne, and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, her best Grand Slam performance since her win in New York.
She was seeded No. 6 in Auckland – the first time she has been seeded at a WTA tournament since the 2022 Korea Open – but her body let her down again.
Raducano has stated that her goal is to play more events in 2025 with the help of regular training sessions on the road with Japanese coach Nakamura.
Speaking earlier this month, she said: “I think it will help me explore how far I can go, like sports. I think that’s my big strength that I haven’t been able to get anywhere.”
“I believe I can become one of the best athletes in the world of tennis, and I am looking forward to seeing how much I can do.”
British No. 1 Jack Draper has withdrawn from the United Cup this week to protect against a hip injury. The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Sunday, January 12.