Emma Raducanu in tears as she withdraws from second match of 2023 with ankle injury in Auckland with indoor court cited as issue
Emma Raducanu has suffered an injury blow in just her second outing of 2023.
The 20-year-old was forced to withdraw from her match with Viktoria Kuzmova at the start of the third set with an ankle injury.
She injured her left ankle after slipping at the back of the court during a rally.
Raducanu received a lengthy medical timeout as she had the ankle strapped and tried to continue the match.
However, after just one point she was in tears and withdrew from the match.
It is a significant blow to her preparations for the Australian Open, which begins on January 16.
Raducanu had looked in strong form early in the match against Kuzmova.
She blitzed the first set 6-0 in just 22 minutes, before her opponent took the second.
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In the first round at the ASB Classic in Auckland, which was moved indoors, she had defeated teenager Linda Fruhvirtova.
“I’ve put a lot of physical work in the last few months and I’ve been feeling good and optimistic," she said after her recent loss. "So to be stopped by a freak injury, rolling an ankle is pretty disappointing, in the first week as well. I thought I was playing some pretty decent tennis.
“The courts are incredibly slick, very slippery, so it’s not a surprise that this happened to someone. It’s out of my control and after a very long day of waiting around. But we’ll assess over the next few days and see what the next steps are.”
Injury problems hampered her progress in 2022, with a wrist injury ending her season early.
She put in plenty of work in the off-season, even working with Andy Murray's former fitness coach Jez Green.
Speaking earlier this week, she said: “For 2023 my goal is to stay healthy for longer. I’m looking forward to working hard because I’ve got a better idea of what to expect now. So I’ll be less like a deer in the headlights.
“For a results goal I’d say it’s to win a title, and three I’d say is to be playing fearless tennis. Just not thinking about consequences. Just going for it.”