British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has announced that she will miss this year’s French Open and Wimbledon due to ongoing issues with injuries to her hands and ankle. 

The 20-year-old has been hampered by a recurring bone injury in both hands, which brought her season to an early end in 2022 and has flared up again this year. She also suffered a left ankle injury earlier this year during a tournament in Auckland. 

She revealed on social media that she has undergone a “minor procedure” on her right hand and will have one on her left hand soon. In addition, she will have another minor procedure on her ankle while she takes some time off to recover from her injuries.

Raducanu’s announcement is a major blow for British tennis fans who had hoped to see her in action at the two Grand Slam events, particularly after her historic win at the 2021 US Open. 

However, it is clear that the young athlete’s health must come first, and her decision to take some time off to recover from her injuries is a wise one. Raducanu’s management team has confirmed that the procedures she has undergone are straightforward and that there should be no concerns about her long-term recovery.

In a social media post, Raducanu said that she had tried to downplay her injury issues and thanked her fans for their support, even when they did not know the full extent of her problems. 

She also expressed disappointment that she would miss the summer events, saying that the last 10 months had been difficult for her as she tried to manage the pain and play through her injuries.

Raducanu’s decision to skip the French Open and Wimbledon means that she will drop out of the top 100 in the world rankings next week and will likely be replaced by Jodie Burrage as British number one in the coming weeks. 

While the hope is that she will be back on the training court at the end of the summer, her participation in the US Open remains doubtful as it begins at the end of August.

Despite this setback, Raducanu remains one of the most promising young tennis players in the world and has already achieved incredible success in her short career. Her victory at the 2021 US Open made her the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam tournament, and her performances over the past year have earned her widespread admiration and respect from fans and fellow players alike.

Leon Osamor