Emma Raducanu has admitted she is uncertain how her body will cope with the demands of the grass-court season after suffering another back spasm in training. The 22-year-old’s injury concern emerged just as she was preparing for the first women’s tournament at Queen’s Club in 52 years, leaving her unable to practice for several days.
This marks Raducanu’s second back spasm in three weeks, the issue first flaring up during a match against Danielle Collins in Strasbourg a week before the French Open. As a result, she is heading into the Queen’s Club event with low expectations.
“Of course I want to win this tournament, like every tournament, but especially when it’s at home,” Raducanu said ahead of her opening match against Spaniard Cristina Bucsa. “But my expectations are pretty low, because I played points for the first time today, and I’ve had maybe two or three days on the grass courts, so it’s not been much.”
When asked if she was concerned about the impact on her grass-court season, Raducanu was cautious. “I can’t really predict the future, and how it’s going to be. I know I’ve been managing my back for the last few weeks now. It’s something that comes and goes.”
She described the injury as frustrating, especially as it hindered her during her second-round match in Strasbourg and also affected her first-round match in Paris. “But I try not to let it get to me. I just have to manage it and take care of it when things happen.”
Raducanu faces a strong field at Queen’s Club, which includes reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, and Australian Open winner Madison Keys.
Despite her recent injury struggles, Raducanu’s preparations received a boost when her former coach Nick Cavaday returned to help her practice while her main coach, Mark Petchey, was still in Paris for the French Open. Cavaday left her team earlier this year for health reasons.
“I’m happy to see Nick healthy, first of all,” Raducanu said. “It’s been a long time since we were last on court together in Australia, and Mark is in Paris commentating. Nick was around, and it is nice to have a few days with him.”
The new WTA 500 tournament at Queen’s Club offers a prize pot of £1 million, which, while increased, remains roughly half the prize money of the men’s ATP 500 event starting the following week. When asked about the disparity, Raducanu chose not to comment directly.
“There is obviously a big difference, and I’m sure a lot of players will say their piece on it, but I prefer not to kind of get involved,” she said. “Whatever the situation is, I’ll kind of roll with it, but I’m never really going to take a stand, either way.”
She was similarly non-committal when questioned about the Lawn Tennis Association’s commitment to achieving equal prize money at Queen’s by 2029. “I don’t really get involved or stay in the loop with all the boards and all the decisions and stuff,” she said. “I just get on with it. But I don’t feel like I really am playing for money. Of course, I need to sustain my team, which is extremely expensive. And with my kind of profile, coaches and team members see that. So it is a very expensive sport, but it’s not my motivation when I play.”
As a child, Raducanu used to visit Queen’s Club with her father, though she confessed she was more interested in finding brownies than watching tennis. Now, she is thrilled that women are back competing there for the first time since 1973.
“To be playing here is amazing. It’s the first time there’s been a women’s event for a very long time,” she said. “It’s going to be great to be playing on home turf with a good crowd.”
In addition to singles, Raducanu will make only her second appearance in a WTA doubles tournament, partnering fellow Briton Katie Boulter. The pair have previously played together in Billie Jean King Cup matches.
“It’ll be extremely special,” Boulter said. “Obviously, she’s a great player, and I’m looking forward to having the first of many more.”
