Hand surgery forces Raducanu to miss French Open and Wimbledon

British tennis player Emma Raducanu, who took the world by storm with her incredible performance at the US Open in September 2021, has been forced to withdraw from both the French Open and Wimbledon due to a hand injury requiring surgery.

The 19-year-old, who became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam tournament when she defeated Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the US Open final, announced the news on social media.

“Hi guys, I wanted to let everyone know that unfortunately I won’t be competing at the French Open or Wimbledon this year,” she wrote in a statement. “I’ve been working hard on the court with my team and rehabbing my injury to compete at the highest level, but unfortunately I need more time.”

Raducanu added that she had a small tear in her abdominal muscle which had been causing her some discomfort, but it was her hand injury that required surgery.

“I was having a bit of pain in my ab area earlier this week and wanted to get it checked out,” she explained. “But during my scans, a tear was discovered in my right hand, which unfortunately means I won’t be able to compete for a little while. It’s frustrating, but I’m doing everything I can to get back on court as soon as possible.”

The news will come as a disappointment to tennis fans around the world who had been looking forward to seeing Raducanu compete in two more Grand Slam tournaments, but the young player’s health and well-being must always come first.

Raducanu burst onto the scene at the US Open, winning over fans with her stunning play and down-to-earth personality. She had to withdraw from the fourth round of Wimbledon earlier this year due to breathing difficulties, but her performance in New York showed that she was more than capable of competing at the highest level.

The young player’s success at the US Open earned her a wildcard entry into the prestigious Indian Wells tournament, where she made it to the third round before being defeated by Greek player Maria Sakkari.

Raducanu’s rise to fame has been meteoric, and fans will no doubt be eagerly awaiting her return to the court. In the meantime, she will be focusing on her recovery and rehabilitation, and no doubt working hard to get back to the top of her game.

In the highly competitive world of professional tennis, injuries are unfortunately a fact of life, and players must learn to manage them as best they can. With her talent and determination, there is no doubt that Raducanu will be back on the court and competing at the highest level in no time.