Raducanu in 'really fit place' as grass season begins

Britain's Emma Raducanu says she is successful a "really fresh place" arsenic she prepares to commencement her grass-court play astatine nan Nottingham Open.

The 21-year-old skipped nan French Open to attraction connected her fitness, having not played since losing successful nan first information of nan Madrid Open successful April.

Raducanu, who had wrist and ankle operations past year, faces Japan's Ena Shibahara successful nan Nottingham first information connected Tuesday.

"Body-wise, physical-wise, I consciousness really healthy. I consciousness really strong," said Raducanu, who played her first WTA lucifer astatine Nottingham successful 2021 earlier going connected to triumph nan US Open later that year.

"I've done astonishing activity pinch my trainer complete nan past fewer months, since surgery. I'm successful a really fresh place. I deliberation my wrists are really successful a amended position than they ever were.

"So there's zero uncertainty aliases apprehension whether I'm hitting nan shot aliases designing my schedule. It's much astir being proactive and not wanting to put yourself successful immoderate unnecessary situations."

Raducanu had room connected her correct wrist and an ankle successful May past twelvemonth earlier a further cognition followed connected her near wrist.

It required her to usage a mobility scooter to get around, pinch her admitting it was difficult to "shut your assemblage down".

"I deliberation it's very easy for maine to suffer show of wherever I was precisely a twelvemonth agone because it is beautiful overmuch a twelvemonth agone to this day, this month," she said.

"You get truthful caught up successful your ain world that you want much and much and more. But a twelvemonth agone I was connected a scooter scooting astir and I didn't cognize - location was an constituent of doubt.

"To beryllium patient and to beryllium here, I request to cherish it."