Emma Raducanu Forced to Pull Out of 2023 Madrid Open Due to Injury, Raising Concerns about Team Dynamics

ParallelDesk 12:49:58 PM, 27 April 2023

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Emma Raducanu, the 20-year-old Brit who became a household name after her incredible run at the 2021 US Open, has been forced to pull out of the 2023 Madrid Open due to an injury to her right hand. This news has raised concerns not just about her future in the sport, but also about the dynamics of her team. On a recent episode of the Tennis Channel, former World No. 1 Andy Roddick joined host Steve Weissman and player Reilly Opelka to discuss Raducanu's struggles with injury and falling out of the top 100 in the WTA rankings. Roddick expressed hope that her latest injury would not keep her away from the tour for too long and that it would be similar to her other injuries, which only caused her to miss a week or two at a time. However, Roddick also questioned whether Raducanu was receiving the right advice on how to manage her schedule and pace herself throughout the year. He expressed concern about the supposed lack of focus among Raducanu's team, saying, "It seems there are a lot of voices in the room and it doesn't seem super focused." Opelka, on the other hand, expressed hope that Raducanu and her team would figure out a routine that would enable her to withstand the grueling tennis schedule. "It's a brutal sport and it demands so much of you physically. You kind of learn as you go," he said. "She'll have a rehab protocol that's going to strengthen her hand and it probably won't flare up again. She'll hopefully have a routine ready to go where she'll be able to withstand a whole season." Unfortunately, Raducanu's withdrawal from the Madrid Open means that she will lose her spot in the top 100 in the next update of the WTA rankings on Monday, May 1. This setback will undoubtedly be discouraging for Raducanu, but fans are hoping that she will recover quickly and come back stronger than ever.