By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday January 5, 2022
One of Emma Raducanu’s top goals for 2023 was to remain healthy. The British star is already finding it difficult in the season’s first week, after turning an ankle and being forced to retire from her round of 16 contest with Slovakia’s Viktoria Kuzmova at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
More: Raducanu’s Aim for 2023? A Title, Good Health and Playing Free
The injury puts Raducanu’s hopes of playing in Australia in jeopardy. The Australian Open begins on Monday January 16.
Raducanu hinted that the courts were not in the greatest shape at Auckland, after players were forced to move indoors due to incessant rain in the area.
Really tough for Emma Raducanu with yet another injury. She retired from her second-round ASB Classic match v Viktoria Kuzmova after winning 1st set 6-0 & losing second 5-7. A huge blow just 11 days from #AusOpen.
She’s been plagued a lot having retired 5 times injured last year. pic.twitter.com/BPYUrOtOd9— Georgie Heath (@GeorgieHeath27) January 5, 2023
“The courts are incredibly slick, so to be honest it’s not a surprise that this happened to someone,” said Raducanu, according to quotes published by Stuff Media. “It’s difficult to take. I’ve put a lot of physical work in the last few months and I’ve been feeling good and optimistic – So to be stopped by a freak injury, rolling an ankle, is pretty disappointing.”
The quarterfinals will take place on Friday in Auckland, with American Coco Gauff leading the way as top seed. Here is how they shape up:
Quarterfinals Auckland
🇺🇸 Gauff v Zhu 🇨🇳
🇸🇰 Kuzmova v Kovinic 🇲🇪
🇧🇪 Bonaventure v Fernandez 🇨🇦
🇨🇿 Muchova v Masarova 🇪🇸— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) January 6, 2023
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