Emma Raducanu perhaps will not be taking part on the Paris Olympics however she will likely be again in motion in late July after signing as much as compete at a WTA 500 event in Washington.
In mid-June, the British Olympic staff introduced that Raducanu did not make herself out there for the upcoming Olympics and that transfer landed criticism and scrutiny upon the 21-year-old as some argued that the 2021 US Open champion merely will need to have accepted to symbolize her nation.
However Raducanu had a proof for her determination, saying that going from grass to clay after Wimbledon can be too dangerous contemplating her harm historical past.
Nonetheless, Raducanu will not relaxation an excessive amount of after Wimbledon as she is now scheduled to return to motion in Washington, which begins on July twenty ninth.
When Raducanu kicks off her marketing campaign on the onerous courts of Washington, she will likely be making her second look on the event. And after doing strong in her Washington debut in 2022 and making the quarterfinal, the previous world No. 10 will definitely be hoping to once more do effectively within the US capital and begin her North American onerous courtroom swing on a constructive word.
An Emma-zing addition this 12 months 🤩
2021 US Open champion @EmmaRaducanu returns to the #MubadalaCitiDCOpen! pic.twitter.com/KK99I4gdHm
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) June 26, 2024
The event additionally confirmed that Paula Badosa, Anna Kalinskaya, Daria Kasatkina, Madison Keys and Sofia Kenin are anticipated to play.
How Raducanu defended herself and what she will count on to occur?
On June sixteenth – simply earlier than Raducanu’s Nottingham semifinal versus Katie Boulter – the information broke out about her Olympic determination. The criticism immediately began coming Raducanu’s manner, and after she misplaced a three-setter to Boulter, she addressed the difficulty.
Talking to British reporters in Nottingham, Raducanu did not disguise that she wasn’t blissful to that some had been labeling her “a diva.” Then, the 21-year-old proceeded to reply why she thought her transfer was affordable.
“I’m very single-minded and I do issues my very own manner and at my very own time – not in a diva manner – however simply prioritizing my physique and my well being as a result of if I’m match, if I’m giving 100%, I do know nice issues are coming,” Raducanu stated.
“I simply don’t suppose there’s any have to put extra stress on my physique or any danger, particularly with my historical past. It [clay] is extra demanding on the physique, for certain. It’s extra bodily, longer factors, however I feel it’s extra simply the change, the distinction between clay and grass after which on to the onerous… For me, it’s not obligatory at this level to place my physique via that.”
Throughout Raducanu’s Washington marketing campaign, the Olympics will likely be performed concurrently and that in all probability implies that the Briton will likely be continually remembered for her determination and can cope with some scrutiny. Nonetheless, she might be able to take it since she knew what would occur after pulling out of Paris.
Raducanu had extra for her critics this week in Eastbourne
On Wednesday, Raducanu has one of the memorable and particular days of her profession after beating world No. 5 Jessica Pegula 4-6 7-6 (6) 7-5 for her first-ever win in opposition to a top-10 participant.
After the match, Raducanu earned reward and constructive evaluations as she continued her nice begin to the grass season. However Raducanu doing effectively in Eastbourne additionally made her Olympic withdrawal much more disappointing to some.
However Raducanu famous that she wasn’t serious about pleasing anyone else apart from herself and likewise made one attention-grabbing remark, suggesting that a few of her previous accidents occurred as a result of she was enjoying some tournaments that she ought to have skipped.
“It’s fairly pure turning into a special individual in a single day virtually with the circumstances, not essentially myself, at such a younger age,” Raducanu stated.
“It’s simpler to get caught up in it and at one level I used to be chasing enjoying too many tournaments after which I used to be simply choosing up niggle after niggle in each event as a result of I by no means actually gave myself any time to do the coaching. That’s one thing I’ve performed quite a bit higher this 12 months.
“Although I’d get challenged or questioned for not enjoying sure tournaments, just like the French Open or the Olympics, that’s simply a part of it, doing issues at my very own pace and the way I wish to, fairly than how everybody else thinks is finest for me.”
In the meantime, Raducanu’s Eastbourne run ended on Thursday with a quarterfinal loss to Daria Kasatkina.